Evaluation of the Regional Academy Growth Fund (DfE, 2018)
Qualitative evaluation exploring academy trust’s experiences of the Regional Academy Growth Fund (RAGF) process to ensure the Fund is efficient, effective and accessible, and to attract applications and enable trusts to make the most of the funding available. Research explored trusts’ awareness and experiences of RAGF application, decision-making processes, use and effectiveness.
The outcomes of this research provided a deeper understanding of the execution of RAGF and informed the successful delivery of future funding strategies such as RAGF’s replacement MDIF. Involved 44 in-depth telephone interviews with 71 individuals (Chief Executive/Chief Finance Officers/Chief Coordinator Officers) across MATs in England, plus five academy visits involving 17 individuals.
In addition, three Regional School Commissioner (RSC) teams were interviewed by telephone, and seven telephone interviews were carried out with representatives from MATs that were unsuccessful in their RAGF bids.