Pupil premium increased and extended

Children receiving free school meals in the Gambia

On 12th December the UK Department for Education announced that the Pupil Premium will be increased from £488 to £600 per pupil. It is also being extended to every child who has been registered for free school meals (FSM) in the past six years.

In 2009-10 32.8% of pupils who have been on Free School Meals in the previous six years achieved five or more A*- C grades at GCSE, compared to 63.5% of their fellow pupils.  Pupils at secondary school are also less likely to be registered for Free School Meals even when they are eligible and so are more likely to be picked up by this approach.

Schools should encourage pupils who are eligible for free school meals to be registered before the census date of 19th January 2012. 

 £50m is also being spent to support a Summer School programme to help the most disadvantaged pupils make the transition from primary to secondary school.

Schools decide how the Pupil Premium is spent. New measures in the performance tables will capture the achievement of pupils covered by the Pupil Premium. From September 2012,  schools must publish online information about how they have used the premium. 

From April 2012, the Government will provide a £250 per pupil premium to schools with service children – up from £200 this year. Whilst the attainment by service children on average is above that of their peers, they face unique challenges and stresses. The extra funding will help schools  focus on providing additional, mainly pastoral, support.