What are Academies the answer to?

Gorard, Stephen (2009) What are Academies the answer to? Journal of Education Policy, 24 (1). pp. 101-113. ISSN 0268-0939

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URL of Published Version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02680930802660903

Identification Number/DOI: 10.1080/02680930802660903

This paper builds upon an earlier analysis presented in this journal. Using official figures for school compositions and for outcomes at KS4 from 1997 to 2007, this paper considers each of the annual cohorts of new Academies in England, from 2002 to 2006. It shows that their level of success in comparison to their predecessors, national averages, their changing compositions, and their changing exam entry practices, are insubstantial. Of course some schools are gaining higher scores since Academisation, but others are gaining lower scores. Using the most recent results available there is no clear evidence that Academies produce better results than local authority schools with equivalent intakes. The Academies programme therefore presents an opportunity cost for no apparent gain.

Type of Work:	Article
Date:	2009 (Publication)
School/Faculty:	Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Social Sciences
Department:	Department of Education and Social Justice
References:	BBC (2004) Academies getting results at GCSE, http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-1/hi/education/3602818.stm, (accessed 17/11/04) DfES (2004a) What are Academies, http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/academies/whatareacademies/?version=1, (accessed 15/11/04) DfES (2004b) Academies, http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/academies/faq/?version=1, (accessed 15/11/04) DfES (2005) Academies Sponsor Prospectus 2005, Nottingham:DfES EGREES (2008) Developing a sense of justice among disadvantaged students: the role of schools, Birmingham: European Group for Research on Equity in Education Systems, 141 pages Gorard, S. (2000) 'Underachievement' is still an ugly word: reconsidering the relative effectiveness of schools in England and Wales, Journal of Education Policy, 15, 5, 559-573 Gorard, S. (2005) Academies as the ‘future of schooling’: is this an evidence-based policy?, Journal of Education Policy, 20, 3, 369-377 Gorard, S. (2006) Using everyday numbers effectively in research, London: Continuum Gorard, S. (2007a) Justice et equite a l’ecole: ce qu’en dissent les eleves dans les etudes internationales, Revue Internationale d’Education Sevres, 44, 79-84 Gorard, S. (2007b) The true impact of school diversity, International Journal for Education Law and Policy, 2, 1-2, 35-40 Gorard, S. (2008a) The value-added of primary schools: what is it really measuring?, Educational Review, 60, 2, 179-185 Gorard, S. (2008b) Does the index of segregation matter? The composition of secondary schools in England since 1996, British Educational Research Journal, (forthcoming) Gorard, S., Taylor, C. and Fitz, J. (2003) Schools, Markets and Choice Policies, (London: RoutledgeFalmer) Hatcher, R. (2006) Privatization and sponsorship: the re-agenting of the school system in England, Journal of Education Policy, 21, 5, 599-619 PricewaterhouseCoopers (2006) Academies Evaluation: 3rd Annual Report, DfES
Additional Information:	'This is an electronic post-print version of an article published in Journal of Education Policy Vol. 24, No. 1 (2009): 101-113.
Keywords:	education, social justice, education and social justice, class, sociology, academies, school improvement, school intakes
Subjects:	LB Theory and practice of education LB1603 Secondary Education. High schools L Education (General)
Institution:	University of Birmingham
Copyright Holders:	Taylor & Francis
ID Code:	598
Refereed:	YES
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