Pupil premium was introduced in April 2011 and is allocated to schools to work with pupils who have been registered for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the last six years (known as ‘Ever 6 FSM’). Pupil premium is funding to improve education outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in schools in England.

Schools also receive funding for children who have been looked after and children of service personnel. The Pupil Premium is additional funding given to schools so that they can support their pupils and their families.

Pupil premium is not a personal budget for individual pupils and schools are not required to spend all of the allocated grant on eligible pupils.

It is for school leaders to decide how to spend the pupil premium, within the requirements of the conditions of grant.

Evidence suggests that pupil premium spending is most effective when used across 3 areas.

1. High-quality teaching, including staff professional development.
2. Targeted academic support
3. Wider strategies to address non-academic barriers to success in schools