What is Pupil Premium and what is the point of it?

The Government believes that the Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current gap in achievement between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers. This is a way of tackling disadvantage and ensuring there is an equality of outcome and an equality of educational experience for allstudents. Pupil Premium funding is allocated based on the number of students eligible for free school meals, the number of looked after children, and the number of students whose parents are in the armed forces. This does mean that the amount Matravers receives varies year on year.

The schools are trusted to spend this additional funding on strategies that will improve the progress of the students eligible for Pupil Premium. It is essential that there is transparency in how this funding is spent. It is a significant investment and we are accountable for the impact of the funds so that we ensure that every student, whatever their background, achieves their educational potential.

Our approach to Pupil Premium spending is to work across all key stages, for every student with need. We identify underachievement and work to remove barriers that are stopping them achieve. The Pupil Premium funding is spent on a variety of resources which help identify those barriers then remove them.

Who are Pupil premium children?

• Students currently on free school meals
• Students who have been on free school meals ever in the last six years (sometimes referred to as the ‘ever 6’ category
• ‘Looked After’ students i.e. those in care for longer than 6 months
• Children who have parents working in the armed services