23rd February

Chain Effects was mentioned again in the final debate on the Education and Adoption Bill when the legislation bounced back to the Commons for MPs to sign off on government amendments made in the Lords. Nic Dakin, Shadow Schools Minister, argued that some academy sponsors are not goo enough and said that: “As the Sutton Trust has shown, not all sponsors are as effective as others. Some are failing to provide an acceptable standard of education”.

During the Committee Stage debate in the Lords in November, Liberal Democrat Peer Baroness Sharp cited the Sutton Trust’s Chain Effects, noting significant variations between chains and within chains with on the performance of disadvantaged pupils. She called for the reports recommendation that “the DfE and regional schools commissioners should specify and operate clear, rigorous criteria for all sponsors”.