A Guide to the Evidence on Academies

National Foundation for Educational Research

29 April 2015

Academy schools are a prominent feature of the educational landscape in England. Introduced in 2002, they are funded directly from central government and have become a major policy driver to reform the school system and increase educational attainment. Academies account for 60 per cent of secondary schools and 13 per cent of primaries.

This report presents the findings from a rapid review of evidence on the performance of academy schools. It is based on 13 key studies which are summarised at the end of this guide. The purpose of the review is to make a contribution to understanding current research on academies with a view to identifying gaps and drawing conclusions.