A study by the National Foundation of Educational Research (NFER) suggests that academies have been less affected by the declining student enrollment crisis compared to local authority-maintained schools. Analyzing primary schools from 2017-2018 to 2023-2024, the report found that schools with lower Ofsted ratings experienced larger decreases in pupil numbers. While state-funded primary enrollment dropped by 1.5% nationally, academies reported smaller declines, particularly in London’s hardest-hit areas, where local authority schools lost more than double the number of students compared to academies. The study highlights the need for further research on how various education sectors can address these challenges effectively.
