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The Harris Federation has been recognised for the fourth consecutive year by the Sutton Trust, a social mobility think tank, as one of the top Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) for the progress of disadvantaged pupils.

Chain Effects 2017: The impact of academy chains on low income students examines chains with three or more sponsored secondary academies which have been open for a sufficient time for the sponsor to have an impact on performance. The chains’ performance was compared to the average for all state-funded mainstream schools.

There were a number of very positive findings for the Harris Federation within the report. 13 Harris secondary academies were included in the analysis, which is the fifth largest sample of the 48 chains looked at.

Disadvantaged students at Harris Federation academies out-performed the national average on the five most important attainment measures:

• Progress 8;
• Attainment 8;
• The percentage achieving A*-C grades in English and Maths;
• The percentage achieving the EBacc;
• Destinations of pupils after key stage 4.

Harris was one of only 4 chains which performed significantly above the national average on these key measures of attainment for disadvantaged pupils and was one of only 8 chains where poorer pupils with top grades at primary schools made more progress than the national average.

Sir Dan Moynihan, Chief Executive of the Harris Federation, said:

We are proud to have been recognised as a top-performing chain for the fourth consecutive year by the Sutton Trust. Closing the attainment gap for disadvantaged students is one of the reasons we exist. Our success is down to our excellent staff who support and challenge our students to ensure they do their very best – as well as the effort and determination of our students.”

Download the full report here and click here to read the Sutton Trust’s press release.