Pupil Premium is additional funding allocated to schools from the government to tackle the barriers that financial disadvantage produces for young learners. The purpose of the funding is to narrow the achievement gap for disadvantaged (DA) students.

The funding is allocated based on the number of students who have been eligible for Free School Meals in the last six years of their education. It also includes any “looked after children” and children who have parents in the Armed Forces. Schools decide how the “Pupil Premium” allocation is spent as they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual students within their responsibility. 

Principles

• The Pupil Premium grant is a tool to tackle disadvantage in all its forms, helping to remove any barriers faced by students.
• Expectations are high for all student groups and individuals. We do not equate deprivation and challenge with low ability.
• We recognise that not all students who qualify for Free School Meals are socially disadvantaged and not all socially disadvantaged students qualify or are registered for Free School Meals. We therefore focus on the needs and levels of progress of all students.
• We ensure that all teaching and learning is designed to meet the needs of all individuals and groups. Additional support is integrated into the teaching programme.
• Research, trialling and self- evaluation are used in order to allocate funding to activities that are most likely to have an impact on achievement.
• We reserve the right to allocate the Pupil Premium funding to support any student or group of students the school has legitimately identified as being socially disadvantaged.
• The pupil premium strategy is reviewed every September and the next review is scheduled for September 20.

Pupil Premium Funding 2020-2021

Interventions

 Academic Support

• Learning Mentor to support students at risk of underachieving below their Minimum Expected Grades (MEG)
• KS3 Literacy Support : tailored 1:1 Catch Up programme for low level readers
• Action Tutoring 1:2 revision programmes in English and Maths throughout the year
• PE Coach to promote involvement in competitive sport
• Additional support from teaching assistants in the classroom
• Named “Looked After Children” Co-ordinator
• Named “More Able” Co-ordinator
• Parental Workshops
• Students using digital photography equipment in Art and during club times
• Students using iPads in Drama lessons
• Revision guides in multiple subject areas
• Students using new digital music equipment in BTEC music
• Development of the Library including an increase in library stock to encourage a love of reading and increased library staffing to extend support for learning for longer before and after school hours
• Online learning subscriptions to extend learning: Heggarty Maths, Vocab Express, Kerboodle etc.
• Accelerated Reader Literacy software programme for years 7 – 9

Student Welfare and Guidance

• School Counsellors – to provide targeted support to students who require specific emotional support / intervention
• EWO – to support students at risk of poor attendance
• Careers Support
• Providing general resources for learning including equipment and revision guides
• Subsidised music tuition
• Subsidised school visits
• Motivational rewards
• Uniforms bought for those who are unable to buy their own
• Specialist equipment required in some KS4 courses e.g. Art packs, ingredients for KS4 Catering students, good quality fabric in GCSE textiles.

Impact of Pupil Premium Funding – DFE 2019 Validated Data

The data below show how disadvantaged (DA) students at Connaught School for Girls progress significantly above the national averages of other (non-DA) students.