What is it?

The Pupil Premium is an additional grant of money provided to schools by the government aimed at reducing the educational effects of disadvantage.

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Who is eligible?

The Pupil Premium is allocated to children from low-income families who are currently known to be eligible, or have been in the last 6 years, for Free School Meals (FSM) and to children who are in Local Authority care.

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Schools in England can receive the Pupil Premium for children adopted from care, or who left care under a Special Guardianship Order on or after 30 December 2005. Schools can also claim the Pupil Premium for children who left care under a Residence Order on or after 14 October 1991. 

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A smaller amount is allocated to children whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces to address the emotional and social well-being of these pupils.

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What is it for?

As a group, children who have been eligible for FSM at any point in time have consistently lower educational attainment than those who have never been eligible for FSM.  For children who have entered Local Authority care, the attainment gap is even wider.  The Pupil Premium is to help schools raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap with their peers. It is paid to schools in respect of disadvantaged pupils in Reception to Year 11.

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It is for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium is spent, since the government’s view is that they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility.

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