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Pupil Premium and Catch-up Funding

Every school and academy has a duty to ensure that all students are given the best possible chance of achieving their full potential. The Pupil Premium is additional funding given to schools so that they can support disadvantaged students and close the attainment gap between them and their peers.

Pupil Premium is a fund provided by the Department for Education to enhance the education of students who are deemed to be from a disadvantaged background. It is provided for those students currently in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM) or have been, at any point over the past 6 years (FSM6). Looked After Children (LAC) and Children with Parents in the Armed Forces are also eligible to Pupil Premium Funding.

We use the Pupil Premium to fund three whole school activity types:

  • Support
  • Intervention
  • Enrichment
Who qualifies?
How is the money spent?

The Pupil Premium was first introduced in 2011 and is paid into schools.  It is allocated to children from low-income families who are currently eligible for free school meals (FSM) and children who have been ‘looked after’ (in the care of the local authority) continuously for more than 6 months. The Premium is also given to schools for children whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces. In 2012 the Government topped up the Pupil Premium to cover those children who have received FSM or been ‘looked after’ at any stage during the last 6 years.

Schools spend the Pupil Premium as they see fit and they need to decide what the aim of Pupil Premium is for their schools which will depend on its context e.g. the school, the teachers (knowledge and experience), the learners (attainment and social background) and the educational outcomes that require improvement.  

Barnsley Academy follows the Education Endowment Foundation’s guidance on effective intervention in schools targeting a 3-tiered approach; High Quality Teaching, Targeted Academic Support and Wider Strategies (e.g. related to attendance, behaviour, wellbeing etc.). We also ensure that the impact of Pupil Premium spending is evaluated periodically, with a final impact report completed at the start of each academic year to help to inform and adapt our actions for the year ahead.

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