Pupil Premium and Recovery Premium
Schools are provided funding to support disadvantaged pupils that nationally perform less well than their peers. The barriers to achievement that disadvantaged pupils face are well documented, and are generally the same for our pupils as they are for other pupils in other schools.
Disadvantaged pupils are likely to have access to a narrower and less complex vocabulary. Research has shown that by the age of four, disadvantaged pupils will have been exposed to 32 million fewer spoken words than children from professional families, and that those words are likely be less complex and varied. They are far less likely to access Post 16 and further education, potentially limiting their options for future careers. Attendance, on average, is lower and in many studies (including our own statistics) show that this has a direct influence on a student’s GCSE attainment and progress.
The intention is that we can use the extra funding to support the progress and attainment of those pupils so that they achieve at least as highly as other pupils. The DFE has given schools the freedom to use Pupil Premium as we see it fit, based upon our knowledge of our pupils’ needs. It is for schools to decide how the pupil premium, allocated to schools per FSM pupil, is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility. However, we are accountable for the use of this additional funding.
We believe that the best way for disadvantaged pupils to catch up with their peers is through our core concept of achievement for all pupils. Through setting the highest expectations, maintaining a strong ethos of achievement, delivering high quality teaching and putting in place effective interventions we promote a culture and ethos where learning flourishes and every pupil matters.
We carefully track a range of measures for our disadvantaged learners and quickly implement interventions and support where needed. Our funding is used to provide more support staff for learners, resources and various sessions to improve learning/work skills as well as wellbeing sessions, music lessons and our Breakfast club to highlight a few of the interventions we offer.
Click HERE to view our current Pupil Premium Strategy & Review covering 2022-2024.
Eligibility for Free School Meals
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
Please click HERE to see if your child qualifies and how to apply.
The application form is easy to complete, but we are happy to help you with it at school if you would like us to. If you would like help with this or indeed any other matter relating to the Pupil Premium please do not hesitate to contact Mr Twigge at the College.
