What is the Pupil Premium?
The Pupil Premium is additional funding allocated by the Department for Education (DfE) to state-funded schools in England. Its purpose is to raise the educational attainment of disadvantaged pupils of all abilities and close the achievement gap between them and their peers.
At St. Andrew's, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances. We use our Pupil Premium funding strategically to remove barriers to learning, build pupil confidence, and ensure all children achieve their full potential.
Who Qualifies for Pupil Premium?
Pupil Premium funding is allocated to schools based on pupils who meet any of the following criteria:
- Free School Meals (FSM / Ever 6 FSM): Pupils currently registered for Free School Meals, or who have been registered as eligible at any point in the past six years.
- Looked-After & Previously Looked-After Children (LAC / PLAC): Children cared for by a local authority, or those who have left care through adoption, a special guardianship order, or a child arrangements order.
- Service Pupil Premium (SPP): Children with a parent serving in the regular armed forces (or eligible within the past 6 years). This funding is primarily designated to provide pastoral support and mitigate the impact of family deployment or mobility.
Our Strategy:How We Spend the Funding
In line with DfE guidance, our spending is evidence-informed and follows the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) 3-tiered model:
- High-Quality Teaching: Investing in continuous professional development, recruitment, and high-impact teaching strategies that benefit all learners. High-quality classroom teaching is the most powerful lever to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.
- Targeted Academic Support: Providing structured 1-to-1 or small group tuition, intervention programmes, and focused academic mentoring for pupils who need extra help to stay on track.
- Wider Strategies & Wellbeing: Tackling non-academic barriers by supporting attendance, emotional wellbeing, breakfast clubs, uniform costs, and access to enriching experiences such as school trips, clubs, and music lessons.
Please note: Pupil Premium is not an individual budget allocated to a specific child. Schools have the autonomy to spend the funding strategically across the school to deliver maximum benefit to eligible pupils and support broader school improvement.
Could Your Child Be Eligible?
Even if your child is in Early Years, Reception, Year 1, or Year 2 (and already receives Universal Infant Free School Meals), registering for income-related Free School Meals is vital.
Registering ensures your child's school receives this extra funding, which can unlock direct benefits for your child—such as subsidised school trips, free extra-curricular clubs, and individualised learning support.
To check your eligibility or apply in complete confidence, please contact our school office.
Our Annual Strategy Statement
Schools are held accountable for their Pupil Premium spending through annual reporting, governor scrutiny, and Ofsted inspections.
To view our detailed 3-year plan, intended outcomes, and evaluation of last year's impact, please download our statutory strategy statement below: