An analysis of the latest performance data of all schools in England has found there are ‘dramatic regional differences’ in the level of challenge faced by each region.

The study, carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), revealed two of the eight Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) areas have more than 500 underperforming schools in each of their jurisdictions.

These same two regions - Lancashire and West Yorkshire, and East Midlands and the Humber - also have the most schools in immediate need that are likely to require rapid attention.

In contrast, the North of England has nearly half this number of underperforming schools.

The NFER also investigated the capacity of Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) to expand to take on and provide support to the most seriously underperforming schools in the different regions.

It concluded that although nationally there appears to be available capacity among existing MATs, at a regional level there are stark differences.

Lancashire and West Yorkshire region faces the most serious shortfall in available sponsors although most other RSCs could face supply shortfalls when matching schools in need with available capacity.

A priority for these RSCs will be to identify and attract new sponsors, the NFER found.

‘NFER’s aim is to increase the evidence and insight available to policymakers and practitioners about what really works within a self-improving school system as well as what challenges exist at different levels within in it,’ said Lesley Duff, NFER’s director of research.

‘What is becoming evident at a regional level, as at other levels within the school system, is that reforms take time to feed through and for the full implications and impact of their implementation to become clear.

‘The Government should be circumspect about introducing further change and any proposals for change should be based firmly on available evidence.’