Research and analysis

A study of the impact of school federation on student outcomes

Find out what impact federations have on outcomes for pupils.

Documents

A study of the impact of school federation on student outcomes

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternative.formats@education.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

The report explores how different types of federations impact on outcomes for pupils.

It identifies several types of federations:

  • Cross-phase federations: 2 or more schools of different phases
  • Performance federations: 2 or more schools, some low performing and others high performing
  • Size federations: 2 or more very small or small schools, or a small school and a medium-sized school
  • Mainstreaming federations:1 or more special schools combined with 1 or more mainstream schools
  • Faith federations: 2 or more schools of the same denomination
  • Academy federations: 2 or more academies run by the same sponsor within a federation or chain

Evidence from the case studies suggests performance federations have the strongest impact on outcomes for pupils. However, there is a time lag of between 2 and 4 years between forming the federation and seeing an impact.

Updates to this page

Published 1 September 2011

Sign up for emails or print this page