Background

The Pupil Premium is additional funding given to publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers. These include pupils who are entitled to free school meals; those looked after by the local authority and children of armed service personnel. The intended effect of this funding is to accelerate progress and raise attainment.

In most cases the Pupil Premium is allocated to schools and is clearly identifiable. It is for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium (allocated to schools per FSM pupil) is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility.

All schools are required to report on the amount of funding received, how this is being used, and the impact of any work done.

Our key objective in using the Pupil Premium Grant is to narrow the gap between pupil groups. Historically levels of attainment have been lower for FSM, this is also a national trend. Through targeted interventions we are working towards eliminating barriers to learning and progress. Many of our children start school with very low attainment levels. Our aim is to ensure that they make accelerated progress as they move through the school.

Current research and recommendations from the Education Endowment Foundation are used to inform the provision for children in receipt of Pupil Premium. We also recognise the '12 Ways to Maximise Pupil Premium' as identified by former Pupil Premium Champion John Dunford.

Our Ofsted report in March 2014 stated: “Pupils eligible for pupil premium funding make better progress than their peers as a result of carefully tailored activities and accurate monitoring”. “The school receives additional funding for pupils eligible for free school meals (pupil premium funding). This is being spent highly effectively and to support these pupils in their writing skills. As a consequence, there is no significant gap in attainment between the groups”.

Pupil Premium