The Pupil Premium is additional funding received by schools for each pupil from disadvantaged families or background. It is allocated to schools based on the number of children who come from low-income families – this is defined as those who are currently known to be eligible for free school meals.

It's important to understand that a pupil isn't required to have a school dinner, but parents or carers must apply and be eligible if they wish for their child to receive one.

It also includes:

• pupils who have been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years
• children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months

First introduced in April 2011, the level of the premium in 2011-12 was £488 per pupil; it increased over the years and now stands at £1,455 in the 2024/2025 academic year. Schools also receive £1,899 for each pupil who:

• has been looked after for 1 day or more
• has been adopted from care
• has left care under:
  • a special guardianship order
  • a residence order
  • a child arrangement order

This money is for schools to decide how to use but should be spent in order to improve educational attainment of children from less privileged backgrounds.

This is one of the government’s education policies.  It is based on findings showing that, as a group, children who have ever been eligible for free school meals tend to have consistently lower educational attainment compared to those who have never been eligible for FSM.

At Sharp Lane Primary, 28.1% of our children are in receipt of Pupil Premium funding. We want to diminish the difference so all children achieve and prosper, regardless of eligibility for FSM.

If you require further information, please email contact@sharplane.co.uk