What is Pupil Premium?
Pupil Premium was introduced by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2011, as additional funding for pupils who receive Free School Meals and who are Looked After Children. This is because the DfE recognised that good education is key to improving children’s life chances, particularly those from low-income families, or Looked After Children. Research shows that without intervention these children are less likely to achieve good GCSEs than other children. The Pupil Premium, using additional resources from outside the School’s Budget, is intended to address inequalities by ensuring that funding reaches the pupils who need it most.
Pupil Premium is also available for children whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces in order to address the emotional and social well-being of these pupils.
Who is eligable?
✓ Pupils eligible for Free School Meals
✓ Looked After Children
✓ Pupils whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces
“Schools, headteachers and teachers will decide how to use the Pupil Premium allocation, as they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for individual pupils.”
Source – DfE website
The DfE state that schools have the right to spend this funding as they see fit based upon their knowledge of children’s needs. There is obvious accountability that serves to ensure that the money is used effectively and to the benefit of these key groups.