Chain effects: the impact of academy chains on low income students (first report)

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This report provides an in-depth look at the performance of academy chains. It finds that some chains, such as the Harris Federation, ARK Schools, and the City of London Corporation, are doing particularly well with attainment scores for disadvantaged pupils, substantially above those of state schools.

However, there are other chains that are not performing as well as state schools in improving the prospects of disadvantaged pupils. The research argues that the success or failure of chains in driving improvements can have a profound impact on the lives of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and that more needs to be done to ensure groups of schools perform well, not just individual institutions.

The report suggests Ofsted should inspect academy chains to ensure all pupils receive the best education possible. It also recommends that the Department for Education should publish data on chains’ performance across a range of measures, in addition to what they publish for individual academies. 

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This is the first in a series of reports from the Sutton Trust that analyses academies’ effectiveness at helping the most disadvantaged pupils, focusing particularly on sponsored academy chains.

The scope of the research will make for interesting reading for both policymakers and professionals within academy chains and individual schools. It may be of particular use to academies that recognise they could do more for their disadvantaged pupils, by providing examples of good practice and evidence-based arguments for organisational change.