Closing the Attainment Gap: A Pupil Premium Guide

What is pupil premium?

Pupil premium is a funding programme designed to boost the learning outcomes of disadvantaged pupils in English schools. According to research, many disadvantaged children experience additional challenges at school and do not perform as well as other students. Pupil premium aims to help schools tackle the attainment gap.

The EEF provide a useful guide for schools leaders on how to spend their pupil premium

Depending on the area they serve, a significant portion of the overall school budget for many primary schools is made up of pupil premium money. Since schools are responsible for how they use the this funding, they must ensure that any techniques or interventions they implement are as successful as possible. Very successful pupil premium treatments that are free or very inexpensive are the aim.

When was pupil premium introduced?

The pupil premium was introduced in 2011 by the government, with the Liberal Democrats being the primary advocates for it. This fund is separate from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) – the main source of school revenue funding for schools.

What are the rates of in 2023?

In primary schools, the regular amount of Pupil Premium funding in 2023 is £1,385 for each eligible student in the reception year through the sixth grade. Pupil Premium Plus (the higher rate for primary school students) is £2,410 and frequently depends on whether a student has ever been in local authority care (‘looked after children’ or ‘previously looked after children’).

The funding at the secondary level in 2023 is £985. Rates are set to increase by around 5% for the financial year 2023-24.

Who is entitled to Pupil Premium?

In 2023, funding is restricted to pupils who:

• Are eligible for free school meals or have been eligible in the previous six years.
• Have been looked after, or are covered by a guardianship or residency order.
• Have been adopted from care.
• Have a parent serving in the armed forces.

How is this typically spent?

Each school gets to decide how to use this money in a way that will help their students the most. There are many different ways that schools use this money. Some examples include:

• Giving extra help to students who are struggling with their work, either one-on-one or in small groups.
• Hiring more teachers or teaching assistants to help in the classroom.
• Offering extra classes before or after school for students who need more help with reading, writing, or math.
• Running a breakfast club to encourage students to come to school.
• Paying for music lessons or educational trips for students who might not otherwise be able to afford them.
• Providing resources like laptops or tablets to help students learn.
• Paying for extra support like speech therapy or family counseling if a student needs it.
• Providing English classes for students who speak another language at home.

The goal is to use the funding in a way that will help each student succeed and do their best.

Do schools need to report their pupil premium plan to Ofsted?

Yes, Ofsted Inspectors will ask schools to provide pertinent evidence of how students are progressing because the efficient use of Pupil Premium funding is now a requirement of the Ofsted accountability process. These are the main prescriptions.

1. Describe their Pupil Premium policy in detail on their website and provide information on what they are doing to close the achievement gap in preparation for Ofsted
2. Inform inspectors of the amount of funds the school has received throughout the last and current academic year.
3. Describes the school’s financial decisions and how they were reached.
4. Using outcome data, demonstrate any modifications made to the learning and development of eligible students.

Useful resources for schools considering how to spend their pupil premium

• Education Endowment Foundation – Guide to using Pupil Premium effectively.

The EEF’s guide encourages school’s to base their spending on three core pillars:

1. Improving teaching – incorporating teacher recruitment, ECT teacher support, and professional development.
2. Targeted academic support – highlighting the impact of 1-to-1 and small group intervention.
3. Wider strategies to overcome non-academic barriers to learning – including attendance booting initiatives, and improving behaviour or providing pastoral support.

Also provided, is a 4 stage model to supporting schools in building long-term pupil premium strategy:

1. Identify pupils’ needs
2. Use robust evidence when choosing support strategy
3. Carry out strategy with care
4. Assess and appraise the success of this support

Also useful: Latest guidance reports including one on how teacher feedback can be used to improve pupil learning.

• The DfE’s guidance on using pupil premium for school leaders.

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