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Fifteen years of school reforms have not closed the gap, researchers say

Government policy Narrowing the Gap Closing the gap
From the abolition of SATs for 14-year-olds to the introduction of academies, there have been countless school reforms over the last 15 years or so.

From the abolition of SATs for 14-year-olds to the introduction of academies, there have been countless school reforms over the last 15 years or so.

But despite the huge efforts to transform the secondary school system, research by University College London (UCL) and the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) has found that school reforms have not bridged gaps in pupils’ academic attainment.

The study, published last month, examined the role that schools play in pupils’ education. Researchers analysed data from around 3,000 secondary schools in England between 2003 and 2016 and compared teachers’ experiences at work with those of employees elsewhere.

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