Pupil Premium

What is pupil premium?

Pupil Premium is additional funding paid to schools in respect of their disadvantaged pupils (pupils who have been registered for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the last six years, or who are service children, or who have ceased to be looked after by the local authority). The school receives this funding to support their eligible pupils and close the attainment gap between these pupils and their peers.

Schools are free to spend the Pupil Premium as they see fit. However they are responsible for how they use the additional funding to support pupils from low income families and other target groups. From September 2012, the government also require schools to publish online information about how they have used the premium.

If you think you are eligible for income related free school meals please click the link below:Free School Meals

Principles for the use of Pupil Premium

To close the gap between Pupil Premium pupils and other pupils in school

To ensure that teaching and learning opportunities meets the needs of all our pupils
To ensure that appropriate provision is made for pupils who belong to vulnerable groups, this includes ensuring that the needs of socially disadvantaged pupils are adequately assessed and addressed
To improve attendance/punctuality of those eligible for Pupil Premium
To increase enjoyment of and engagement with the school curriculum
To increase participation in a range of extra-curricular activities, clubs educational visits etc
To raise aspirations

Pupil Premium funding will be allocated to priority classes, groups and individuals. Limited funding and resources mean that not all children will be in receipt of Pupil Premium interventions at any one time.

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 to support any pupil or groups of pupils the school has legitimately identified as being socially disadvantaged.

How do we decide where the money is spent?

At St Thomas More we are committed to spending the Pupil Premium Funding in a way that will have the greatest impact on attainment and achievement. Funding has been allocated based on tracking of pupil progress and on research by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), case studies by the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) and by using conclusions from Ofsted surveys. Targeted interventions and support are based on needs analysis which has helped identify priority classes, groups or individuals. Teachers are also able to request funds to help pupils both in and outside of lessons. At the end of each academic year an evaluation of interventions and support is made in terms of the cost effectiveness of the programme and of the impact and progress made by the pupils.

Related Information

Pupil Premium Policy

Pupil Premium Strategy StatementYear 1 Review - Pupil Premium Strategy 2023-24

Year 2 Pupil Premium Strategy Statement (Review Sept 2025)