CYP Now - Academisation not a ‘silver bullet’ for school improvement, researchers find

Converting schools stuck in a cycle of poor Ofsted ratings to academies is not a “silver bullet” for improvement, according to new research.

Poorly performing schools often have a higher level of disadvantaged pupils, researchers found. Picture: Adobe Stock

Schools rated “inadequate” or “requires improvement to be good” in a series of inspections “end up in a cycle of challenging circumstances and limited improvement”, the study, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, warns.

It looks at the underperformance of 580 schools, described as “stuck” schools, in England that consistently received less than good Ofsted inspection grades between 2005 to 2018.

Researchers, from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) and University College London and the Free University of Amsterdam, found that after the initial negative Ofsted grade, the intake of a school tends to become more disadvantaged and teacher turnover increases, both of which contribute to the difficulty in reversing the negative Ofsted judgment.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included