An expert overview of pupil premium
If you want to know more about pupil premium funding and how to make the most of it, look no further. The National College offers a comprehensive CPD programme on pupil premium, to help your school or setting develop effective an effective strategy for its use, implement evidence-based interventions to bridge attainment gaps, and support better outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.
In the blog below, teacher, trainer, and consultant John Rees, who has more than 25 years’ educational leadership experience, provides an introductory overview of pupil premium, exploring what it is, what it can be spent on, how to spend it effectively, why it is so important, and the impact it has had.
What is pupil premium?
In 2011, the UK government introduced pupil premium, a funding initiative aimed at helping schools in England to provide extra support and resources for disadvantaged pupils. Pupil premium funding is money that schools receive for each disadvantaged pupil in their care. The government provides this funding to help schools improve the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers. Pupil premium is paid to schools in addition to their main per capita funding, and is allocated to pupils who meet certain eligibility criteria.
Pupil premium eligibility is based on a number of factors, including whether a pupil is or has been eligible for free school meals in the past six years, whether they are in care or have been in care for at least one day, and whether they are the child of a member of the UK armed forces.
What can pupil premium be spent on?
Pupil premium funding can, and should, be spent on a range of initiatives and resources that are aimed at improving the attainment and wellbeing of disadvantaged pupils. This might include:
- extra tuition: schools can use pupil premium to provide additional tuition for disadvantaged pupils in areas such as English, maths, and science
- resources: pupil premium can be used to purchase additional resources such as textbooks, learning materials, and equipment
- mentoring and coaching: schools can use pupil premium to provide additional mentoring and coaching for disadvantaged pupils to help them overcome any barriers to learning
- extra-curricular activities: schools can use pupil premium to fund extra-curricular activities such as sports clubs, music lessons, and drama clubs, theatre or other sporting trips and visits which enhance cultural capital
- emotional support: pupil premium can be used to fund emotional support for disadvantaged pupils who may be struggling with mental health issues or other emotional difficulties
How should we spend pupil premium effectively?
To spend pupil premium effectively, schools should first identify the needs of their disadvantaged pupils, and then develop a strategy for how best to use the funding to address those needs. Schools should also consider ways to:
- monitor progress: schools should monitor the progress of disadvantaged pupils who receive support through pupil premium to ensure that it is having the desired impact
- evaluate effectiveness: schools should evaluate the effectiveness of their pupil premium spending to determine what is working well and what can be improved
- share good practice: schools should share good practice with other schools to help ensure that pupil premium is used effectively across the education sector
When can schools apply for pupil premium and how long does it last?
Schools can apply for pupil premium funding each academic year. The amount of funding that schools receive is based on the number of disadvantaged pupils on their roll, and the funding is paid in three instalments throughout the year. Pupil premium is intended to be used in the academic year in which it is allocated.
Why is pupil premium important?
The pupil premium is important because it is designed to help close the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their classmates. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds often face additional barriers to learning. The pupil premium funding is intended to help schools address those barriers and provide additional support and resources to help those children succeed academically and flourish more widely.
The pupil premium has been shown to have a positive impact on the attainment of disadvantaged pupils, with schools that spend the funding effectively seeing significant improvements in academic performance.
What has been the impact of pupil premium funding?
Over the past decade, the pupil premium has played a significant role in improving the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils in England. The funding has been used to provide additional resources, support and interventions to help close the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their more advantaged peers.
One of the most significant impacts has been in improving the attainment of disadvantaged pupils in key subjects such as English and maths. Research has shown that schools that have used pupil premium funding to provide additional tuition and support have seen significant improvements in the attainment of disadvantaged pupils.
In addition to improving attainment, pupil premium funding has also been used to provide additional support and resources to improve the wellbeing and social mobility of disadvantaged pupils. This includes:
- mentoring and coaching
- participation in and engagement with extra-curricular activities
- emotional support, which supports attainment and enables pupils to flourish more widely
Although the impact of pupil premium funding has been largely positive, it is important to note that the effectiveness of the funding is dependent on the quality of the interventions and support provided. To ensure that pupil premium funding is used effectively, schools must focus on evidence-based practice. This means using interventions and support that have been shown to be effective in improving the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils.
There is a wealth of research available on effective interventions for disadvantaged pupils, and schools should use this research to inform their decisions on how best to use pupil premium funding. Additionally, schools should monitor and evaluate the impact of their pupil premium spending. By monitoring the progress of disadvantaged pupils who receive support through pupil premium, schools can determine what is working well and what can be improved.
Finally, it is important for schools to share best practice with each other to ensure that pupil premium is used effectively across the education sector. By sharing their successes and challenges, schools can learn from each other and work together to improve the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils.
Ensuring the effectiveness of pupil premium
In conclusion, pupil premium has had a significant impact on improving the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils. The funding has been used to provide additional resources, support and interventions that have helped to close the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their more advantaged peers.
To ensure that pupil premium is used effectively, schools must, in summary, do the following:
- focus on evidence-based practice
- monitor the impact of their spending
- share best practice with each other
If you’re concerned about keeping up to date with the latest education policy, practice and research, consider a membership with The National College. Not only does it provide access to thousands of professional development resources for all staff, but also enables leaders to create training programmes precisely tailored to individual and collective needs, to help ensure compliance and drive up standards.