 Having been the architect of the academies policy in the Policy Unit, Adonis was also able to be the driving force in Government behind the programme, which replaced failing and under-performing comprehensive schools with all-ability, independently managed academies, run on a not-for-profit basis.By the time he left the Department in October 2008, 133 academies were open and 300 more were in the pipeline.Government policy later sought to force academisation of all schools, moving them from outside Local Authority control.