The Effect of Primary Converter Academies on Pupil Performance

This study analyses the impact of primary converter academies on pupil progress, using data from the National Pupil Database. Adopting a difference-in-differences methodology, a positive influence of converter academies upon pupil outcomes is identified when comparing individuals exposed to academy conversion with those who complete primary school before conversion. Attending a converter academy increases a pupil’s ranking within their cohort, according to the average point score, by between 1.1 and 2.6 percentile points. Primary converter academies are found to consistently improve pupil outcomes within areas of low deprivation whereas in areas of high deprivation, the identified effect may be much greater but is more variable across years of conversion and cohorts. White pupils and pupils not in receipt of free school meals are also consistently found to benefit from converter academy attendance.