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Allow LAs to take over failing academies says think tank

A new report by think tank the Education Policy Institute (EPI) has examined the impact of academy chains and local authorities on pupil attainment.

Overall school performance: academy chains vs. local authorities

The report found little difference in the performance of schools in academy chains and local authorities. Both academy chains and local authorities featured at the very top of the EPI’s performance tables and at the very bottom.

At primary (KS2), the difference in pupil improvement between the highest and lowest performing groups is well over two points on the new national curriculum assessments – the equivalent of over a full term’s progress.

At secondary (KS4), the difference in pupil improvement between the highest and lowest performing groups is equivalent to half a grade in each GCSE subject.

The report makes the following recommendations: 

  • The Government should identify those academy chains where there is a significant risk of failure and build sponsor capacity in those geographical areas that are at risk from chain failure before it occurs.
  • Allowing high performing local authorities to take over schools from underperforming academy chains.
  • In some instances, it may be appropriate for schools to return to local authority oversight in the same way that a school may be moved to a high performing academy chain. This would provide additional capacity within the system and would go some way to reducing the time taken to move an academy.
  • Poorly performing local authorities should be challenged with school level interventions in some cases. They could be challenged through Regional Schools Commissioners to ensure that schools receive the support required. The Government should also consider how they can intervene at an individual school level in these areas.
  • The Government should continue to publish performance information at academy chain level and reconsider its decision not to publish comparable information on the performance of local authorities.

Read more on the EPI’s website here.

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