Chapter 4: Diversification and Diversity: An Exploration of Social Capital and Leadership in the Development of England’s Academy and Free Schools

The diversification of school types in England has been accelerated by structural reforms aimed at converting schools historically under local authority jurisdiction to forms of central government-controlled contract provision. In this process such schools are decoupled from local democratic structures, and charitable Trusts take on the role of contract holder. In addition, all new schools must be developed under this model of provision. However, within a complex political context these structural reforms remain only partially delivered, with increasing uncertainty as to whether current structural reforms will ever achieve a wholesale roll out across the sector. The result is a system of mixed school types, organized according to differing macro-governance structures and public service paradigms. English Free Schools and Academies have in common a policy framework, financial structures and governance structures that make them efficient vehicles for the advancement of contemporary policy priorities rooted in neoliberal paradigms of government-funded civil-society delivered school provision. These schools also exhibit the fastest growth among the different types of schools in England.