Javier Espinoza covered the Chain Effects report for the Daily Telegraph

Three out of four academy chains have at least one school below the Government’s new definition of a ‘coasting’ school, according to new research.

The study, by the Sutton Trust, found that 44 per cent of the individual academies analysed were below the Government’s new ‘coasting’ level in 2014 and 26 of the 34 chains had at least one coasting school.

The think tank also suggested that disadvantaged students in 11 of the 34 academy chains which were studied were outperforming the average for all state-funded schools.

The study compared the performance of disadvantaged students in academies and other state-funded schools between 2012 and 2014.

…..

Sutton Trust chairman Sir Peter Lampl said: “Many chain sponsors, despite several years in charge of their schools, continue to struggle to improve the outcomes of their most disadvantaged students.”

The trust is urging the Government to include a measure of attainment for disadvantaged pupils in its new criteria for coasting schools.

The study identified a number of attainment measures including the percentage of disadvantaged students achieving A* to C at GCSE or equivalent (including English and Maths), the percentage making expected progress in English and Maths, and performance in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc).

Among the highest performers were academies sponsored by education charity Ark, known as Ark schools, which has 32 primary and secondary schools in London, Birmingham and the South of England.

Read his full report here

Media enquiries

If you're a journalist with a question about our work, get in touch with Sam or Rocky on the number below. The number is also monitored out of hours.

E: [email protected] T: 0204 536 4642

Keep up to date with the latest news