What is Pupil Premium?

Pupil Premium is funding allocated to schools for the specific purpose of boosting the attainment of pupils from low-income families. Funding is based on the number of children at the school who are currently registered for free school meals, (FSM), or those children who have been registered at any time in the previous six years.

Why has Pupil Premium funding been introduced?

The Government believes that Pupil Premium funding, which is in addition to the main school budget, is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals and their peers. The aim is to ensure that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most. Historically, FSM pupils make slower progress and achieve lower results than those children who do not receive FSM. This is a national issue. The purpose of Pupil Premium funding is to target support to ‘narrow the gap.’ Schools are free to spend this funding as they see fit. However they are required to hold detailed records and publish online how they spend such funding.

Please see Pupil Premium Strategies below.