The Effects of English Secondary School System Reforms (2002-2014) on Pupil Sorting and Social Segregation: A Greater Manchester Case Study

Stephanie Thomson and Ruth Lupton

Published 11 August 2017

The English secondary school system has been undergoing rapid change. 60% of secondary schools are now Academies. Opponents of these changes fear, among other things, greater social segregation, while supporters argue that Academies will raise standards for all, reducing inequalities. What actually unfolds will depend a lot on local arrangements and dynamics. This paper takes a close up look at the effects of the changes in four local authorities in Greater Manchester: Manchester, Salford, Trafford and Bury.