Pupil Premium – What is it?

30 Mar 2021

What is the pupil premium?

The Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) is a government scheme designed to narrow the attainment gap for disadvantaged pupils in publicly funded state schools in England. Introduced in 2011, the scheme was launched as a response to the findings of several research papers which found that:

• Disadvantaged pupils face extra difficulties in reaching their educational potential.
• Disadvantaged pupils often do not perform as well in comparison to their peers.

While the government allocates this extra funding, school leaders decide how the extra funding is distributed and used in their schools.

The Scholars Programme, designed by The Brilliant Club, is cited by Ofsted as an ‘effective use of pupil premium’,  building pupils’ cultural capital and providing academic support.

Which pupils qualify for pupil premium funding?

The pupil premium is allocated based on the number of pupils who are registered in these categories:

Free School Meals

• Primary schools are allocated £1345 for every pupil that is currently eligible for free school meals.
• Primary schools are allocated £1345 for every pupil that has been eligible for free school meals in the past six years, identified as the Ever 6 FSM.
• Secondary schools are allocated £955 for every pupil currently eligible for free school meals.
• Secondary schools are allocated £955 for every pupil eligible for free school meals in the past six years, also identified as the Ever 6 FSM.

Looked-after and previously looked-after pupils

• Both primary and secondary schools receive £2345 for every pupil currently in the care of, or provided with accommodation by, an English local authority.
• Both primary and secondary schools receive £2345 for every pupil who has left local authority care through adoption, a special guardianship order or child arrangements order.

Which schools are eligible for pupil premium?

The pupil premium grant is allocated to publicly funded schools in England, encompassing:

Local authority-maintained schools, including:

• All mainstream infant, primary, middle, junior, secondary and all-through schools serving children aged 5 to 16.

• Schools for children with special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities.
• Pupil referral units (PRUs).

Academies and free schools, including:

• All mainstream academies serving pupils aged 5 to 16.
• Academies for children with special educational needs or disabilities.
• Alternative provision (AP) academies, for children who do not go to a mainstream school.

Voluntary-aided-schools:

• This includes voluntary-sector alternative provision schools with local authority agreement.

Non-maintained special schools:

• This includes schools for children with special educational needs.

How do schools use the pupil premium?

School leaders, including the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), decide how to use the pupil premium in their respective schools. The government acknowledges that they are best placed to understand the needs of their pupils.

Recommended by the Education Endowment Foundation, many schools adopt a three-tier approach to the pupil premium which splits the funding into three categories:

• Teaching: The EEF places greatest emphasis on investing in the professional developments of teachers and for all staff to maximise the impact of learning for pupils. In practice, the pupil premium may be used to arrange training sessions, professional development opportunities, and support for early career teachers.
• Academic Support: Schools can invest in extra academic help for pupils. In practice, the pupil premium may be used to hire teaching assistants in the classroom, fund one-to-one tutorial support in the core subjects, and pay for extra intervention sessions.
• Wider Support: As well as academic aid, pupils can face other barriers to securing a readiness to learn. The pupil premium can also be used to alleviate these issues that may, for example, concern attendance, emotional and mental support, and cultural capital. In practice, the pupil premium may be used to fund breakfast clubs, transport, counselling, school trips, and extra-curricular activities.

While some schools choose to adopt their own model, the aim to close the attainment gap remains the same. Many schools adopt these practices of distributing the pupil premium.

How are schools held accountable for spending the pupil premium?

Schools are required to maintain transparency by demonstrating how they are spending the pupil premium effectively:

• Online statement: Maintained schools and most academies must publish a strategy statement if they are allocated the pupil premium. The government recommends updating the online statement at least once a year, starting from the late autumn term.
• Ofsted inspections: As part of the inspections, schools may be required to demonstrate to the inspector their strategy and examples of it in practice.
• Performance tables: Schools can publish performance tables to demonstrate the outcomes of their pupil premium strategy.

Where can I find out more?

To learn more about the pupil premium, the government has published a policy paper here.

For further information into pupil premium interventions click here.

For updates into the pupil premium system click here.