What is Pupil Premium?

The Pupil Premium is a government grant provided to schools to help improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and to reduce the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers nationally.

Funding is allocated to schools annually based on the number of pupils in the January school census who are eligible for:

• Free School Meals (FSM), or who have been eligible at any point in the last six years (Ever 6 FSM)

• Children Looked After by the local authority

• Children previously looked after (including those adopted from care)

• Children of service families

National evidence shows that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to underperform academically. Pupil Premium funding is therefore intended to support these pupils academically, socially and emotionally, enabling them to make good progress and achieve well.

Statutory Information (DfE Requirement)

In line with Department for Education regulations, Priory Junior School publishes:

• The amount of Pupil Premium funding received for the current academic year

• How the funding is intended to be spent

• How the previous year’s funding was spent

• The impact of Pupil Premium spending on pupils’ attainment, progress, attendance and wider outcomes

This information can be found in our Pupil Premium Strategy Statement, which is updated annually and available below. 

Pupil Premium Leadership and Accountability

• Pupil Premium Lead: Holly Edwards (Deputy Head)

• Pupil Premium Governor: Carol Chadwick

The Headteacher and Governing Body have a shared responsibility for ensuring that Pupil Premium funding is used effectively, represents good value for money, and has a clear, measurable impact on pupils’ outcomes.

Objectives for Pupil Premium Spending

At Priory Junior School, we use Pupil Premium funding to:

• Ensure high-quality teaching and learning meets the needs of all pupils

• Identify and address barriers to learning for disadvantaged pupils

• Support pupils’ academic progress in reading, writing and mathematics

• Improve pupils’ language, communication and vocabulary development

• Support pupils’ social, emotional and mental health needs

• Improve attendance and punctuality

• Provide targeted interventions and small-group support

• Enhance and broaden pupils’ learning experiences, including enrichment activities, educational visits and specialist provision

• Support the progress and achievement of more able disadvantaged pupils

• Ensure pupils feel safe, supported and confident learners

We recognise that not all pupils eligible for Pupil Premium are socially disadvantaged, and that not all disadvantaged pupils are eligible for Pupil Premium. Support is therefore carefully targeted based on individual need.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Impact

The impact of Pupil Premium spending is:

• Monitored regularly by the Headteacher and senior leaders

• Evaluated through pupil progress meetings, assessment data, attendance data and pastoral records

• Reviewed by the Governing Body through termly reports and challenge

• Used to inform future spending decisions and school improvement priorities

Strategies are adjusted where evidence shows that alternative approaches would have greater impact. 

Pupil Premium Funding Rates (2025–2026)

For the 2025–2026 financial year, the national Pupil Premium funding rates are:

• £1,515 per pupil for pupils eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) (primary and secondary)

• £2,630 per pupil for Looked-After Children (LAC) and Previously Looked-After Children

• £350 per pupil for children of service families

These rates reflect a general uplift from the previous year, as confirmed by the Department for Education. Funding is paid directly to schools and may be pooled to provide targeted or whole-school support where this will have the greatest impact on disadvantaged pupils’ outcomes.