Radical reform project, international competition, neoliberal agenda (Fielding & Moss, 2011)

ENGLAND: In 2010, there were 203 academies, in 2017 there are 6087 (increase of 2899%)

Co-operative Foundation Trust Schools: 532; Co-operative ‘convertor’ academies: 57; Co-operative ‘sponsored’ academies: 11. Co-operative College, April 2017.

Self help, Self responsibility, Democracy, Equality, Equity, Solidarity

Programme of privatisation & marketisation, with an increased role of philanthropy & business (Ball, 2013)

Foundation ‘Trust’

Schools

Other Sponsored Academies

Convertor

Academies

Group Sponsored Academies

Co-op Movement: a variety of models

Convertor academies were created following the 2010 Academies Act. There are 45 co-op convertor academies.

Trust schools were created in 2008, they are funded through the Local Authority. There are c. 750 co-op trust schools

Sponsored academies were created in 2000, they are funded via private investment and central government.There are 7 co-op sponsored academies

Mervyn Wilson (former CEO), Co-operative College 2015

Weakness in co-operative motivation? Are ethics and principles sufficient tools for transformation?

Most participants suggested that the decision to convert had been informed by a combination of these factors