Creating expert publics: A governmentality approach to school governance under neoliberalism

This chapter draws on primary data to document the changing role and responsibilities of school governors in England as they navigate the brave new world of school governance. Adopting a governmentality approach, the chapter details the specific techniques and rationalities intended to shape the professional and moral conduct of governors. It explores how public priorities are re-ordered to align governance with corporate interests and governance strategies with public-sector management. The original contribution of this chapter concerns why and how school governors are being reimagined as expert publics, purveyors of technocracy and ancillaries to marketisation.