The Pupil Premium is additional funding given to publicly funded schools in England to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers.

The government believes that the Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) and their peers. This ensures that funding to tackle disadvantage, reaches the pupils who need it the most.

The funding is available to both mainstream and non-mainstream schools, like special schools and pupil referral units. 

A Pupil Premium of £1,480 is allocated to schools for each pupil that has been registered for Free School Meals (FSM) at any point in the last six years. 

In addition, schools will also receive £2,570 for every pupil who has left local authority care through adoption, a special guardianship order or child arrangements order.

A Service Premium (£340) is available for every pupil with a parent who is serving in HM Forces or has retired on a pension from the Ministry of Defence.  The funding is to help with pastoral support.

Schools can spend their pupil premium on pupils who do not meet the eligibility criteria but need extra support.  For example, pupils who are or used to be in contact with a social worker, as well as those acting as a carer.

Details of how St Cuthbert's spends the Pupil Premium allocation can be found in the report below.