Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium is funding to improve education outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in schools in England. Evidence shows that disadvantaged children generally face additional challenges in reaching their potential at school and often do not perform as well as other pupils.

Pupil Premium funding is allocated to schools on the following basis:

  • £1,480 per pupil recorded as Eligible for Free School Meals in the last 6 years (Ever 6 FSM)
  • £2,570 per looked-after child (LAC) defined in the Children Act 1989 as one who is in the care of, or provided with accommodation by, an English local authority
  • £2,570 per pupil who has ceased to be looked after by a local authority in England and Wales because of adoption, a special guardianship order, a child arrangements order or a residence order

This money is specifically designed to help us raise the achievement level of the students in these groups who have previously been identified as being disadvantaged through economic hardship. We also receive a premium for students whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces.

FSM (Free School Meals) pupils retain their funding for six years, even if their circumstances change and they are no longer eligible for Free School Meals. These pupils are termed as Ever Six (E6) children. It is for schools to decide how to use this funding in order to help the above groups of pupils reach their potential:

The funding is used to provide:

  • Targeted support and teaching for pupils who are at risk of not making expected progress.
  • Extra learning support, delivering learning support for children within the classroom environment.
  • Training and professional development for teachers and teaching assistants.
  • Support with ongoing school costs such as uniforms, educational visits and more.

Protection for Younger Siblings

Transitional protections are put in place on an individual child basis, not on a family basis. This means that younger children will not become entitled to free school meals simply because their older sibling is in receipt of transitional protections. Extending transitional protections to families would lead to unfairness in the system for those children without older siblings. The younger child must meet the eligibility criteria at the time the application for free school meals is made in order to be entitled to free school meals.