16 Tuesday, September 29, 2015 Eastern Daily Press

Like us at: NEWS local www.facebook.com/edp24 Is the system really working for our children? The rise of academy schools has proved to be the most controversial development in education for the last few years. But does it actually work? In the first of a four-day special examining the performance of academy schools in our region, education correspondent MARTIN GEORGE looks at their GCSE results

I A protest was held at the Hewett School in after it was announced it would become an academy. The annual release of the GCSE Picture: ANTONY KELLY results table is a key moment for any high school. Fairly or not, they are judged on So, what are academies, and why do they matter? how many pupils gain at least five GCSEs at A*-C, including English Academies are schools that were brought in by the Labour a wider group, and converter and maths, and this headline figure is are funded by taxpayers, government, with the first academies, which are used by Ofsted and the government. ’s first six sponsored acade- but have cut their formal opening in 2002, with the idea inpendent, remains, but the A key element is whether schools mies had not yet converted, their ties with the local council that businessmen or charities distinction is becoming less are above the government’s floor average score was just 30.3pc, well and receive their money could take over struggling useful. Good schools that want standard for pupils leaving with below what was required. By summer directly from the government. schools in deprived areas, to convert are increasingly those all important five “good” 2015, the average result had risen to Although all schools have and turn them around. The encouraged to link up with GCSEs. For the last three years, that 43.3pc. had a lot of autonomy from government expanded the a wider organisation, and minimum expectation has been 40pc. This was a significantly greater local authorities since 1988, policy after 2010, encouraging increasing numbers of existing How have schools’ GCSE results improvement than the overall academies have extra freedoms, top-performing schools to go it converter academies are opting changed since they became acade- Norfolk average in the same period, and so do not have to follow the alone as converter academies, give up their independence mies? The picture is mixed, academy which rose from 52.3pc to 54.8pc. national curriculum and can while pushing for more and and join academy chains. status is certainly not a fix-all solu- This figure does, however, conceal employ unqualified teachers. more poorly-performing schools Their introduction has not tion for schools looking to improve some dramatic year-to-year varia- They are not allowed to make to become sponsored academies, always been welcomed. Many grades. tions, most notably Ormiston Victory a profit and are run by an run by an outside organisation. have concerns about a lack of Academy, formerly Costessey High academy trust which has to Broadly speaking, this transparency, the freedom they Sponsored academies School, whose headline figure soared file annual accounts with split between sponsored have to dictate their own terms to 73pc two years ago, a few years Companies House. Academies academies, which are part of and at times even the motives. Overall, sponsored academies have after becoming an academy, before improved. These were schools that crashing back down to 41pc and 40pc were made into academies precisely in 2014 and 2015 respectively. the 20s for the past three years. . In the two years ing an academy in 2013, but has been because their performance was not It is a trajectory mirrored, but to a Thetford Academy remained in the since, its results have risen to the just below 30pc for the last two years. good enough, so they started from a lesser extent, by City Academy 20s or 30s for its first three years, high 40s. low base. Norwich, which saw its results peak before Ofsted judged it “inadequate” Improvements at the Open Converter academies In 2010, when the majority of at 40pc in 2012, before falling back to and it was taken over by the Academy, which became Norfolk’s first academy when it replaced Converter academies were those Heartsease High in 2008, have been schools whose performance was so Martin George on our findings... more steady and gradual, despite a good the coalition government setback in 2013. encouraged them to become stand- Over the next four days, we set up to help the most – caution. Complex stories often What is the picture like when the alone academies, independent of will look at how secondary children from disadvantaged lie behind simple numbers. more recent sponsored academies are outside organisations. As with school academies in our area backgrounds. On the fourth Changes to GCSE results must considered? Norfolk’s original sponsored acade- have been performing. day, we will take stock, and be treated with caution, as the Of the 14 schools that had been mies, the average headline figure for Although there are an compare our findings to those government greatly restricted sponsored academies for at least a the five original converter academies increasing number of primary made nationally. the number of qualifications year by the time this year’s results has improved. academies locally, most are too As a report published by the that would count for league came out, nine have seen results go Their average headline GCSE new to draw firm conclusions. Sutton Trust in July noted, table purposes, and excluded up since converting, two saw them result in 2011, before they had been Today and tomorrow we “the level of complexity the results of any exams pupils stay the same, and three saw them academies for a year, was 65pc. It has will examine the two and fluidity has made it re-took. fall. been higher in every year since, main measures the notoriously difficult Small shifts in grade But the picture for the two spon- except in 2014, when changes to the government uses to to analyse the impact boundaries, or a difference sored academies in Waveney, in league table rules saw results fall at judge schools: their of academies”. between year groups, can have , is less positive. most schools, and this year this group headline GCSE results, And although disproportionate effects on East Point Academy, which of schools’ average headline GCSE and their Ofsted exams results and the headline pass rate, and replaced High, in , score was 69pc. The average of all inspection results. inspection grades can changes to Ofsted’s inspection rose to just above 40pc in 2012 after its Norfolk high schools fell from 55.4pc The third day will seem authoritative handbook can make it hard first full year as an academy, but has to 54.8pc. examine their impact when printed in to compare year’s Ofsted been below the government’s 40pc But when all the schools that have on a group of pupils black and white, any grade with another’s. floor for each of the last three years. become converter academies are they were conclusions we draw But our research has found , which considered, a less clear-cut picture originally must be treated with clear themes in many areas. replaced the Denes High School, in emerges. Eight have seen their head- Lowestoft, was at 30pc before becom- line GCSE figure rise between their Eastern Daily Press Tuesday, September 29, 2015 17

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Academy status – does it make a difference?

Overall GCSE trends (five A*-C grades) in Norfolk

80

70

60

50 The rise of academies Primary Secondary 40 Sponsored Converter Sponsored Converter Total

England average (state funded) 2008-9 ...... 0 ...... 0 ...... 1 ...... 0 ...... 1 30 Norfolk 2009-10 ...... 0 ...... 0 ...... 2 ...... 0 ...... 2 2010-11 ...... 0 ...... 2 ...... 6 ...... 3 ...... 11 Converter academies 20 2011-12 ...... 0 ...... 2 ...... 6 ...... 10 ...... 18 Sponsored academies 2012-13 ...... 6 ...... 6 ...... 9 ...... 15 . . . . . 36 % of pupils achieving Grade A*-C GCSE A*-C Grade achieving % of pupils 10 2013-14 ...... 17 ...... 12 ...... 13 ...... 16 . . . . . 58 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2014-15 ...... 32 ...... 23 ...... 16 ...... 18 . . . . . 89 GCSE trends – the figures Results for Norfolk’s 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 longest-standing GCSE GCSE GCSE GCSE GCSE GCSE GCSE GCSE academies England average (state funded) . 47.6% . . 50.7% . 55.2% . .58.2% . . 58.8% . . 60.6% . . 56.6%. . . . N/A Norfolk ...... 47.9% . . . 50% . 52.3% . .55.4% . . 55.6% . . 54.4% . . 52.7%. . .54.8% Converter academies ...... 68.6% . . 61.9% . . 60%. . 59.8% 100 2015 GCSE % A* to C grades Sponsored academies ...... 32% . 29.5% . 42.3% . . 46.7% . . 45.3% . . . 41%. . 49.5% 86% 80 GCSE results in the year 90% before changing to an (2011) 72% academy (year in brackets) 68% 61% 62% 60 2015 Norfolk average 54.8% 56% 47% 66% 68% 42% 40% 42% (2011) 56% (2011) 40 (2011) 28% 43% 36% 38% (2011) 20 (2010) 35% (2010) (2008) 29% (2010)

% of pupils achieving Grade A*-C GCSE A*-C Grade achieving % of pupils 19% 20% (2009) (2010)

City Academy King’s Lynn Ormiston Ormiston Victory The Open The Thetford Cromer Diss Springwood Wymondham Wymondham Norwich Academy Venture Academy Academy Academy Academy Academy High School High School College High (Sponsored) (Sponsored) (Sponsored) (Sponsored) (Sponsored) (Sponsored) (Converter) (Converter) (Converter) (Converter) (Converter)

Source: Department for Education

conversion and 2015, but eight saw them fall. Two remained the same. A parent’s verdict... Overall the average GCSE score has I fallen from 68.6pc to 59.8pc. Susie “My daughter had to suddenly being run like and some big security One of the converter academies Hellard and move schools because a business, they took gates went up, but other which saw its results fall, Lynn Grove her daughter her high school became a business decision, than that nothing really Academy, has since given up its inde- Kayleigh. an academy. She was rather than one that seemed to change. Picture: pendence and joined an academy offered, and wanted to was right for a pupil. “It seemed like the trust, Creative Education, after SUBMITTED do, AS level Further “I also don’t think it’s communication got Ofsted raised concerns about the fall Maths because it’s right they can simply do worse as well. We in its GCSE results in 2013 and what she wants to do what they want without never really got an declared it “inadequate”. Another at university and she the county council explanation about them converter academy which has seen wants to be a maths having a say in it. dropping the class. results drift downwards, Acle teacher. “Kayleigh spent three There we’re also fewer Academy, is now seeking the support “But when it came to years at the school text books around, of a sponsor. Of the converter acade- it they decided there before it became an which I guess was mies in north Suffolk, all but Bungay weren’t enough academy and three years because of costs.” High saw their headline GCSE results children so she after. What did improve improve on their pre-academy figure. was not able to was that they do more Susie Hellard, of do it; she was in the community; Watlington, in west I Do you have a child being really upset. It there were also a few Norfolk, on the experience educated at an academy? Are you felt like because changes in the look of encountered by her happy with their progress? Email they were the school, new signs daughter Kayleigh. [email protected] 14 Wednesday, September 30, 2015 Eastern Daily Press

Like us at: NEWS local www.facebook.com/edp24 Ofsted grades show an up and down picture Thousands of children in our region are now taught in academies. But is the system working? In the second part of a series examining academy schools in our region, education correspondent MARTIN GEORGE looks at their Ofsted grades

How do you know how good your local schools are? The chances are that GCSE league tables, a visit to the school or the views of friends will help you form your opinion. But for many parents the judgment of an independent Ofsted inspector carries real weight. harder for schools to gain the top I Naomi Palmer, principal of at Costessey. Picture: ARCHANT LIBRARY It is certainly important for the grades, so headteachers argue it is government and councils, who use not always possible to say whether a For the four Norfolk schools that three saw their grades improve, five Ofsted grades to make crucial deci- change in an inspection grade is due Sponsored academies were rated “inadequate” before saw them stay the same, while four sions about which schools are doing to changes at Ofsted, or changes at converting, it was impossible for saw them fall. Not a great picture. well, and which need intervention. the school. For many sponsored academies – their Ofsted grade to get worse. The In north Suffolk, one, Hartismere, Indeed, many of the decisions to That said, an analysis of Ofsted generally schools that were perform- question is whether they got better. retained its “outstanding” grade, turn Norfolk and Suffolk schools into grades gives a mixed picture in terms ing badly – their last pre-academy They did, with two now rated three retained their “good” grades, academies were triggered by poor of success. Ofsted report was their lowest point. “good”, and two judged to “require while Bungay High fell from Ofsted reports. improvement”. “outstanding” to “requires So, if we compare the last Ofsted Overall, none of Norfolk’s spon- improvement”. report before schools became acade- sored academies was rated “good” or The most notable change was that mies with the latest report since they better before it became an academy; of Lynn Grove High, in Gorleston, converted, how do the inspectors now, six are – including two which which last year became the first – think they have done? received the top “outstanding” and, so far, only – converter academy There is one word of warning. grades: Ormiston Victory Academy in Norfolk to be judged “inadequate”. Successive changes to the Ofsted in Costessey, and Ormiston Venture It had not only been rated “outstand- inspection criteria have made it Academy in Gorleston. ing” when it became an academy, but In Waveney, East Point Academy’s also sponsored another school, Overall, none of predecessor school was “inade- Woodlands Primary. Since the “inad- quate”, and the academy received the equate” judgment, both have been Norfolk’s sponsored same judgment in 2013, but it taken over by the Creative Education academies was rated improved to “requires improvement” Trust, and Lynn Grove’s grade this year. Ormiston Denes improved improved to “requires improvement” good or better before it from “inadequate” before it following an inspection in May. became an academy. converted to “requires improvement” now. Non-academies Now six are. I East Point Academy. Picture: JAMES BASS However, while this Ofsted picture is generally positive, the story for the In Norfolk in the last four years, 11 academies that have been open the non-academies saw their Ofsted Case study: The , formerly Heartsease High longest is more complex. grades fall, seven remained the same, The Open Academy, Thetford and eight got better. The biggest Academy and East Point Academy movement came in the number of were all rated “inadequate” in their schools falling into the “inadequate” first Ofsted reports after becoming category – seven – triggering the academies, while City Academy process that saw them all become Norwich initially improved from sponsored academies. “satisfactory” to “good” after it None has had full Ofsted inspec- replaced Earlham High, but then fell tions since then, but Ofsted inspec- back to “requires improvement” tors returned to all of them at least earlier this year. once before they became academies, to carry out an monitoring inspec- Converter academies tion. In each case, they found either September 1, 2008 that the school’s action plan was “fit Became Norfolk’s first academy, sponsored by the If sponsored academies’ pre-conver- for purpose”, or the school was Bishop of Norwich and businessman Graham Dacre sion grades were sometimes so low making “reasonable progress” they could not get worse and top towards getting out of special meas- performing schools that were rated ures, or removing their “serious “outstanding” cannot see their grade weakness” designation. That raises 4 get even better. But can they main- the question of whether becoming an tain those standards? academy is really necessary for trou- None of the three Norfolk schools bled schools like these to improve. 3 3 which had an “outstanding” judge- ment when they converted kept that I In our story yesterday on GCSE 2 grade after their subsequent inspec- trends, the figures for The Open Ofsted grade Ofsted tion, and none of the others has Academy should have read that its February 2, November 17, June 13, April 24, moved up into that category. results rose from 16pc in 2008 as 2007 2010 2013 2015 Of Norfolk’s 12 converter acade- Heartsease High to 44pc in 2015, not mies to have been inspected so far, as stated.

16 Thursday, October 1, 2015 Eastern Daily Press

Like us at: NEWS local www.facebook.com/edp24 Academies need to close the gap In the third day of our series examining the performance of academies in our region, MARTIN GEORGE looks at an area that is close to their original purpose – helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

When the Labour government origi- nally launched the academies programme, a key aim was to improve the life chances of children in some of the most disadvantaged communities. The academies movement has expanded massively over the past pupils, and their non-disadvantaged five years, from 200 schools to peers? more than 4,700, and been extended For Norfolk’s six longest standing to top-performing schools as well sponsored academies – schools that as those that are struggling – but became academies because of the rhetoric about helping pupils concerns about their performance, from poorer backgrounds has often in areas with high deprivation remained a feature of politicians’ – three saw the gap narrow between speeches. 2011 and 2014, while three saw the gap And this year, Andrew Cook, widen. Ofsted’s regional director for the East However, for most of these schools of England, made clear how impor- there was considerable variation tant the performance of disadvan- from year to year, with the gap at City tages pupils will be in future school Academy Norwich rising to 37 inspections. percentage points in 2012, before fall- Since 2011, the Department for ing to seven percentage points in Education has published data for 2013, and rising again by 20 percent- I The gap between children from different backgrounds varies from year to year. each school comparing how many age points a year later. Pictures: DOMINIC LIPINSKI/PA WIRE & RUI VIEIRA/PA WIRE pupils from disadvantaged back- Of the six, the Open Academy grounds – such as those who qualify was the only one to see the gap for free school meals or are in care - either fall or remain the same School attendance is another indicator achieve at least five GCSEs at A*-C, year-on-year. including English and maths, with For Norfolk’s five longest standing A school’s absence rate is 10 how many pupils from non-disadvan- converter academies – top perform- KEY: taged backgrounds achieved the ing schools that became standalone another key measure of how it same. Both nationally and locally, academies – the data shows that for is performing, and is something Converter that Ofsted inspectors often academies there has been a persistent and wide the three full years since they 8 gap, and the gaps in Norfolk and converted, two narrowed the gap, two comment on in their reports. It is also a statistic that is Sponsored Suffolk have almost always been saw the gap widen, and one remained academies wider than in England as a whole. the same. But, as with the sponsored often shows a close correlation with deprivation, with a higher So, have academies in our region academies, the most striking feature 6 England succeeded in closing the gap in GCSE was how much this figure varied absence rate found in areas avg state results between disadvantaged from year to year, rather than there with more poverty. funded How have Norfolk’s sponsored being any steady trends. Norfolk Overall, the figures suggest acade- academies performed on this 4 Of course schools mies have more work to do to narrow metric? 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 should be efficiently the gap for disadvantaged pupils – but Overall, they have done well, then so do the county’s schools as a cutting the overall absence % OF PUPILS CLASSED AS PERSISTENT ABSENTEES run, but there has to be whole. rate. But this has also been the an empathy... of what Norfolk’s latest GCSE gap of 29 same story for Norfolk’s national trend. What is more most sponsored academies percentage points was higher than overall absence rate across encouraging is that, despite have reduced their absence they are there for that for both converter academies (28) all high schools, and also some schools doing better than rate faster than the Norfolk Emma, a teacher and sponsored ones (25.4). The reflects the downward others, average. national average is 27.5.

A teacher gives her verdict...

Emma (not her real name) was for staff over pupils’ behaviour. entered for GCSEs if not likely were also to be ripped out – as knows he is wearing nothing the head of a department at Extreme hairstyles were not to get a C grade or above. all pupils would be doing more but have to pretend all is a Norfolk high school which allowed; piercings and deviation “It is prohibited now, but even “academic studies”. This last fabulous. became an academy. She left from standard school uniform then they did it to this boy was a singularly inappropriate “Hype does not equal results. within a year after becoming too. It had the desired effect, who only needed those two decision for a catchment area Inadequate management paying disillusioned. She writes... in that it made the children exams at C grade to get into that had large numbers of themselves huge salaries as conform. This was the external, higher education to train as foreign students. though they were heading up “I worked in an academy for visible “proof ” the school was a gardener. He was not very “Academies are run like industry, is inappropriate in the a year, but such was the jaw- improving. academic, but as he had taken businesses, by people who extreme. dropping level of corruption “However, as for the them earlier the previous year do not, generally, have a “Trusts who run schools as regarding manipulation of administration of the school, and got an F, that was deemed background of education. Thus though they were businesses is figures and the pointless it was extremely manipulative. his maximum – a very short- the then headteacher was paid wrong. mountainous paperwork I I had a boy in my tutor class, sighted surmise. a huge salary and bonus, yet “Of course schools should resigned at the end of the first whose mother asked me on “Religious Education was taken sacked four teaching assistants be efficiently run, but there term. parents’ evening why he was out of the curriculum because in the year I was there as they has to be an empathy and “The tenor of academies is the not being allowed to sit GCSE they could – it’s compulsory in couldn’t be afforded. understanding of what they are focus is strictly on what shows maths and English. I went to the National Curriculum. “I refer to that time as there for – to educate the whole and ostensible improvement. So investigate, it turned out that a “The beautiful woodworking participating in a scenario range of children, not squeeze mine was very strict on uniform substantial number of children lathes and machinery, inherited similar to the “Emperor’s New them into a production line of as this is a key “control” point would not be, and had not been, from the grammar school days, Clothes” – where everyone bog standard C grades.”

16 Friday, October 2, 2015 Eastern Daily Press

Like us at: NEWS local www.facebook.com/edp24 Academies’ performance is inconclusive

Why does it matter? Over the past three days Neutral position we have been looking at Academies spark real passion. To their most vehement opponents, they the performance of weaken local democratic oversight of academy schools in our schools and have heralded the marketisation of schools. To their region. MARTIN most passionate advocates, they free schools from bureaucrats and give GEORGE pulls families real choice. But whether you are positive, nega- together the findings. tive or indifferent on the issue, acad- emies are a matter of fact, and how they perform really matters. They educate about 43,000 children in Norfolk alone; they are responsi- ble for millions of pounds of taxpay- ers’ money, and if they do not succeed, education in our region will not improve as it needs to. Another reason they matter is that academies are not only here to stay, What we have found their number is set to expand. I The Conservatives signalled in As we said at the outset, any conclu- Norfolk County Council their election manifesto that they sions are tentative at best. MPs and assistant director of children’s would increase the number of acad- academics who have analysed acade- services Gordon Boyd. emies, and the Education and mies across England have said their Norfolk County Council has Adoption Bill currently passing conclusions have been limited by the always said it is neutral on through Parliament will do just short time that most have been in the issue of academies, and that. operation. In Norfolk and Suffolk, sees its role as challenging It will introduce a new category of this is certainly true. and supporting all schools “coasting schools”, and non-acade- For GCSE results, sponsored acad- in the county to deliver mies that fall into it will have to emies – generally struggling schools an excellent education for I The at Gorleston had a slight fall in headline GCSE convert if they cannot convince civil starting from a low base – have seen pupils, no matter what type performance of its disadvantaged pupils between 2012 and 2014. servants they have a clear plan to their average rise, but their average they are. Picture: NICK BUTCHER improve. still remains below the county’s. It is a policy it has And all schools that Ofsted Critics of academies would say maintained under judges “inadequate” will have to their low starting point gives them For some later converters, results fallen in all types of schools, but Conservative and Labour-led become academies, making what is more scope to improve than other have dipped, and Ofsted’s regional slightly faster among sponsored administrations, and, with currently an expectation of the schools; supporters would point to director raised concerns about the academies. the exception of the Hewett Department for Education into a the fact they did in fact improve. performance of isolated converter School earlier this year, it legal requirement. But hidden behind the averages are academies. The overall picture has not opposed schools big variations between academies. As far as Ofsted results go, it is a becoming academies. How they’re performing Some saw an initial improvement, similar picture. Sponsored acade- Gordon Boyd, from Norfolk County With more than two- followed by a decline. mies, which had the most room for Council, said it was a “mixed picture” thirds of the county’s high Over the past three days, we have Some had generally sustained improvement, did indeed improve. for academies and non-academies, schools now academies, looked at four measures of how acad- improvement. Some saw their results Converter academies, which had the and he is right. and the number of primary emies are doing – headline GCSE yo-yo. furthest to potentially fall, saw more Some academies have performed academies growing fast, results and Ofsted grades, which are Converter academies – generally fall than rise, but most retained their very well. Some have not. And some how does it think academies the government’s main measures for high-performing schools – remained previous grade. have varied from year to year. The in the county have holding schools to account, and above the Norfolk average, but as As for disadvantaged pupils, in same is true of non-academies. performed? whether they improve the life more schools converted, their aver- some years academies saw the gap And if there is any conclusion to Gordon Boyd, assistant chances of disadvantaged pupils, a age took a downward turn. between them and their peers be drawn from that, it is that becom- director at the Children’s group they were first set up to help, For the first group of schools to narrow, and some saw it widen. ing an academy is not, in and of Services Department, and attendance, which is often lowest convert, their already impressive And as far as the school absence itself, an automatic guarantee of said: “The performance in deprived communities. results improved further. rate is concerned, it has consistently sustained school improvement. across maintained schools and academy schools is a mixed picture and at this Other studies that have looked into the issue stage there are no particular trends. Education Select Committee impact of academy status on has a significant presence in between and within chains. “What is crucial to a The cross-party committee attainment in primary our region, including Ormiston Some chains continue to school’s success is strong of MPs published its long- schools”. Venture and Cliff Park, in achieve impressive outcomes leadership, governance and anticipated report on academies The MPs concluded: Gorleston and Victory Academy for their disadvantaged teaching, in January. “Academisation is not always in Costessey. students against a range of “Some schools have been able It found: “According to the successful, nor is it the It found that for Ormiston, measures, demonstrating the to achieve improvements research that we have seen, it only proven alternative for there was a slight fall in the transformational impact on life in these areas by becoming is too early to judge whether a struggling school. Both headline GCSE performance chances that can be made. academies while others academies raise standards academies and state maintained of its disadvantaged pupils “However, a larger group of have made rapid progress overall or for disadvantaged schools have a role to play in between 2012 and 2014, when low-performing chains are by federating with other children.” system-wide improvement by compared to the national achieving results that are schools. However, it praised outstanding looking outwards and accepting average, putting it in the middle not improving and may be “All schools and groups of multi-academy trusts, said the challenge in order to ensure of the 34 academy chains. harming the prospects of their schools benefit from finding overall state of the education high quality education for all It also found the gap between disadvantaged students” the right kind of support to system had improved since children.” its disadvantaged and non- It found that, over time, the best suit their particular areas the academies programme disadvantaged pupils was chains had got better, and the for development. started, and competition Sutton Trust smaller than the national worst had got worse. “What works will be a from academies may have The charity published its report average for schools that were The report recommended the matter for each individual prompted better intervention Chain Effects, the impact of not sponsored academies. government should not rely school or community and we from councils in their under- academy chains on low-income Overall, the authors concluded: solely on academy sponsors to work closely with governors performing schools. students, in July. Of the 34 “There is very significant improve schools, and should to help them to explore these The committee found “no academy chains included in its variation in outcomes for learn lessons from successful options and find the best fit convincing evidence of the analysis, only one, Ormiston, disadvantaged pupils, both chains. for their school.”