Few secondary schools are using powers to explicitly prioritise disadvantaged pupils in admissions – despite the financial benefits, new research has found.
But some settings, particularly free schools, are turning to more “innovative” approaches to make their intakes more inclusive.
The report, by the University of Bristol and funded by the Nuffield Foundation, includes the first national analysis of school admissions arrangements since widespread academisation of the system.
Lead author Simon Burgess, professor of economics at the University of Bristol, said the report “provides a much-needed comprehensive overview of how secondary schools are accepting pupils”.
