The Pupil Premium is government funding provided to schools in England to help close the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers. It exists because national data shows that, on average, children from low-income backgrounds and other vulnerable groups face additional barriers to academic success and do not perform as well as their classmates. The funding is intended to provide schools with the resources they need to counteract these disadvantages and ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed.

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What Is the Pupil Premium?

 

The Pupil Premium is an annual grant allocated to schools based on the number of pupils who meet certain eligibility criteria. This includes:

• Children who are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) or have been in the last six years (referred to as 'Ever 6 FSM').

• Children who have been looked after by a local authority for at least one day or have left care through adoption, a special guardianship order, or a child arrangements order.

• Children of armed forces personnel, who receive a separate Service Pupil Premium to provide pastoral support and help with the challenges of a mobile family life.

It's important to understand that this funding is not a personal budget for individual pupils; it's given to the school to use strategically to support its disadvantaged cohort.

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How We Use the Pupil Premium

 

At our school, we use the Pupil Premium to fund a range of initiatives that are proven to have a positive impact on student outcomes. We carefully analyse the specific needs of our pupils to ensure the money is spent effectively. Our approach is guided by a three-tiered framework from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), focusing on:

1. High-Quality Teaching: We believe that excellent teaching benefits all pupils, especially those who are disadvantaged. We invest in staff training and professional development to improve classroom practice, ensuring that lessons are tailored to meet the needs of all learners.

2. Targeted Academic Support: This includes interventions for individuals or small groups. We use the funding to provide one-to-one or small-group tuition in core subjects like English and maths, targeted literacy and numeracy catch-up programs, and specialist support for pupils with specific learning difficulties.

3. Wider Strategies: We also use the funding to address non-academic barriers to learning. This can include providing pastoral and emotional support, funding extra-curricular activities and school trips to broaden pupils' experiences, and supporting families to improve attendance and punctuality.

By strategically planning and evaluating our use of the Pupil Premium, we are dedicated to ensuring that all pupils, regardless of their background, have the resources and support they need to achieve their full potential.

Our designated member of staff for Pupil Premium is Mrs Castlo. 

	How to apply for Free School Meals	[pdf 111KB]
	RMLS Pupil premium statement 22-23 with review	[pdf 122KB]
	The Pupil Premium and Recovery Premium Strategy Statement 2023-24	[pdf 121KB]
	Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2024-25	[pdf 256KB]
	Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2025-26	[pdf 193KB]