The HAB school governance model promised fewer, but more skilled governors, streamlined processes, and better cross-school collaboration. This uncertainty manifested as a “confidence recalibration” when HAB members realised how complex contextualised scrutiny was in technical areas, demonstrating the need for considered training. Develop clear role definitions and terms of reference for HAB members that specify responsibilities, authority levels, and interactions with other governance structures. There are reasons to remain cautiously optimistic about HAB school governance’s potential. The future of MAT governance appears to lie not in choosing between efficiency and engagement, but in creating structures that can deliver both.