Pupil Premium

The Pupil Premium is funding provided to schools which is additional to main school funding. It is allocated according to the number of pupils on-roll who have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) within the past 6 years. It is for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility.

However, schools are to be held accountable for how they have used the additional funding to support pupils from low-income families.

St Mary’s Fields Academy has received £145,040 as its allocation for pupil premium for 2024-2025 Click below to see how this will be spent.

PP strategy Dec 2024

policy-for-the-use-of-the-pupil-premium

Principles

At St Mary’s Fields Academy our aim is

• To raise the achievement (the attainment and progress) of all pupils eligible for pupil premium so that their performance is narrowing the gap with their non-pupil premium peers nationally
• Address inequalities and improve the achievement of disadvantaged pupils compared to their non disadvantaged peers nationally

In making provision for socially disadvantaged pupils, we recognise that not all pupils who receive free school meals will be socially disadvantaged. We also recognise that not all pupils who are socially disadvantaged are registered or qualify for free school meals. We reserve the right to allocate the Pupil Premium funding to support any pupil or groups of pupils the school has legitimately identified as being socially disadvantaged.

• Pupil premium funding will be allocated following a needs analysis which will identify priority classes, groups or individuals. Limited funding and resources means that not all children receiving free school meals will be in receipt of pupil premium interventions at one time.

How the school measures the impact of the Pupil Premium

To monitor progress and attainment, measures have been included in the performance tables that will capture the achievement of pupils covered by the Pupil Premium Grant (PPG). At St Mary’s Fields Academy, we use a cycle of data collection and the monitoring and tracking of the cohort’s attainment, to inform pupil progress and enable the early identification of need, support and appropriate intervention.

At regular data reviews, the school assesses and analyses the impact of actions taken and will plan for how the funding will be specifically allocated over the next phase.

Eligibility Criteria for St Mary’s Fields Academy to receive Pupil Premium (Free School Meals)

Parents/guardians in England do not have to pay for school meals if they receive any of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
• Working Tax Credit ‘run-on’ – the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

Pupil Premium is an important payment for schools and a really good opportunity for eligible parents to get even more support for their children in schools.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about Pupil Premium funding and how it is being used to benefit your child, please speak to the School Business Manager.

If you think your child may possibly be eligible for free school meals, even if you don’t want your child to eat school meals, you can apply in a number of ways:

• Collect a form from the school office
• Phone the Local Authority on 0116 454 1009
• Apply online (see link below)

Online application for Free School Meals