This report by the Education Policy Institute brings together the findings from a programme of work examining the features of effective school groups and finds that there is no identifiable general optimal organisational structure for school groups.
The report shows success depends more on how the group is run than its specific type. Researchers looked at different school groups, including those run by local authorities and independent trusts (MATs). They found that strong performance can be found in both models.
The study examined different school groups and found that strong performance can be achieved under various models. Both MATs and local authorities can deliver excellent results, but it all comes down to effective management that prioritises student achievement, staff well-being, and financial responsibility.
The study revealed that how well a group functions can vary more within its own category than compared to other categories. For instance, the difference between two individual MATs can be much larger than the difference between the average MAT and the average local authority group.
However, the study also identified some important trends across group types. Primary schools linked to religious organisations (dioceses) seem to enroll a lower proportion of disadvantaged students, raising concerns about equal opportunities. Multi-academy trusts experience higher teacher turnover compared to local authorities, especially in secondary schools, which can negatively impact student achievement.