The government’s expectation is that all schools are committed to becoming academies by 2022. ‘Good’ and ‘Outstanding’ schools are being encouraged to convert and underperforming schools are required to convert. The government is also currently drafting legislation to trigger conversion of all schools within a local authority in two specific circumstances:

• If a local authority area reaches a ‘critical mass’ where there are so many academies that it cannot support its remaining schools
• Where the local authority consistently fails to meet a minimum performance threshold across its schools,demonstrating an inability to bring about meaningful school improvement