Benchmarking overhead in education: a theoretical and empirical approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on the efficiency of Dutch secondary schools. In particular, the size of the schools' management is benchmarked. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology used is an advanced micro‐econometric technique called stochastic frontier analysis. Findings – The method used is applicable for identifying the optimum allocation, in particular the size of management. The overall result is that there is no systematic over or under allocation of management in Dutch secondary schools. Practical implications – Each school received an individual benchmark. Schools can position themselves in respect with other schools and have information on how to adjust allocation of resources. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the discussion about the size of management costs of Dutch secondary schools. The analysis is based on state‐of‐the‐art methodologies and has not been applied to the educational process.