The pupil premium is additional funding received by schools for each pupil from disadvantaged families or background. It is allocated to schools based on the number of children who come from low-income families – this is defined as those who are currently known to be eligible for free school meals.
It also includes:
- pupils who have been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years
- children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months
First introduced in April 2011, the level of the premium in 2011-12 was £488 per pupil; it increased to £600 per pupil in 2012-13 and is currently £1320. Schools also receive £1,900 for each pupil who:
- has been looked after for 1 day or more
- has been adopted from care
- has left care under:
- a special guardianship order
- a residence order
- a child arrangement order
This money is for schools to decide how to use but should be spent in order to improve educational attainment of children from less privileged backgrounds.
This is one of the current coalition government’s key education policies. It’s based on findings that show that, as a group, children who have been eligible for free school meals at any point in time have consistently lower educational attainment than those who have never been eligible for free school meals.
Our objectives in spending Pupil Premium Grant: Raising Attainment and achievement of students to at least expected progress through:
- Provision to raise standards in literacy(particularly writing) and maths, particularly for higher attaining pupils.
- Early identification of pupils at Foundation Stage and Key Stage One.
- Provision for social & emotional support/strategies to improve attendance and behaviour
- Enrichment/cultural experiences – trips, activities, extra curricular activities.
For a detailed breakdown of last year’s spending and its impact, download these documents:
