Pupil Premium funding: Maximising its impact
Pupil Premium funding is a government initiative implemented in 2011 to support schools in raising the attainment of pupils who face disadvantage.
For the 2024-2025 financial year, schools across England will receive increased funding to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background.
But how does it work? This page provides an overview of Pupil Premium funding, including the current rates, payment schedule, and accountability measures. It also offers guidance on how schools can effectively use this funding to enhance the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils.
What Is Pupil Premium Funding?
Pupil Premium is additional funding provided by the UK government to schools, aimed specifically at improving the educational outcomes of pupils who are disadvantaged due to economic or social factors. This funding is intended to help close the attainment gap between these pupils and their more affluent peers.
Pupil Premium funding rates for 2024-2025
For the 2024-2025 financial year, the UK Government has allocated increased funding per eligible pupil. The rates are as follows:
- Primary-aged pupils (Reception to Year 6): £1,455 per pupil
- Secondary-aged pupils (Year 7 to Year 11): £1,035 per pupil
- Looked-after children (LAC) and children who have ceased to be looked after, including those under special guardianship orders: £2,530 per pupil
- Service children: £355 per pupil
These rates apply to pupils who are eligible for free school meals (FSM), those who have been eligible at any point in the last six years (Ever 6 FSM), and children who are or have been in local authority care.
Pupil Premium payment schedule
Pupil Premium funding is allocated to schools in quarterly instalments throughout the financial year. For the 2024-2025 financial year, the payment schedule is as follows:
- June 2024: First instalment
- September 2024: Second instalment
- December 2024: Third instalment
- March 2025: Final instalment
Schools receive the funding directly and are responsible for deciding how to allocate it to maximise the impact on pupils who need it most.
Accountability and reporting
Schools are held accountable for how they use Pupil Premium funding. Ofsted inspections consider the effectiveness of a school’s use of the funding, and schools are required to publish a Pupil Premium strategy statement on their website annually.
This statement should outline how the funding will be spent, the rationale behind these decisions, and how the school intends to measure the impact. You can find the Department for Education’s strategy templates here.
Schools are expected to monitor the progress of pupils receiving Pupil Premium support and adjust their strategies as necessary to ensure the funding is making a tangible difference. The aim is to ensure that the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers is closing, as demonstrated by improved educational outcomes.
How can schools spend Pupil Premium funding?
The flexibility of Pupil Premium funding allows schools to tailor their spending to the specific needs of their pupils. It’s crucial that schools make evidence-based decisions that focus on proven strategies to enhance pupil outcomes. Here are some of the most effective ways schools can spend their Pupil Premium funding:
- Targeted academic support:
Investing in targeted support, such as one-to-one or small group tutoring, is a highly effective way to boost the attainment of disadvantaged pupils. Tutoring provides personalised attention that helps address specific learning gaps, reinforce classroom learning, and build confidence.
“Action Tutoring is a fantastic addition to the bespoke support we are able to offer our students. We have had several years of successful outcomes for students and are delighted to be embarking on another year.”
Jo Cooper, Deputy Headteacher, Bramcote College in Nottingham
- High-quality teaching:
Funding can be used to provide professional development for teachers, ensuring that they are equipped with the skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality instruction that meets the needs of all pupils, particularly those who are disadvantaged. - Interventions and resources:
Schools may use Pupil Premium funding to implement targeted interventions, such as literacy and numeracy programmes, and to purchase additional learning resources, including educational technology, that support pupil learning.
“Action Tutoring has helped raise the confidence and academic achievement of many of our Year 11 students. It is an extremely well organised organisation who we have had the pleasure of working with for several years!“
James Kennedy, Key Stage 4 Leader, King Edward VII School in Sheffield
- Pastoral support and wellbeing initiatives:
Addressing the social and emotional needs of disadvantaged pupils is also crucial. Schools can use the funding to provide mental health support, counselling services, or extracurricular activities that promote wellbeing and personal development. - Parental engagement:
Engaging parents in their children’s education can have a significant impact on pupil achievement. Schools can use the funding to develop stronger communication channels with parents, offer workshops, and involve them in their child’s learning journey.
The impact of tutoring on disadvantaged pupils
Research consistently shows that tutoring is one of the most effective ways to raise attainment for disadvantaged pupils. By providing focused, personalised instruction, tutoring helps pupils catch up with their peers, improve their grades, and build the skills they need for long-term academic success. It’s a powerful tool for closing the attainment gap, making it an ideal use of Pupil Premium funding.
At Action Tutoring, we partner with schools to provide high-quality tutoring that supports disadvantaged pupils in achieving their full potential. Our programmes are evidence-based, with a proven track record of improving pupil outcomes. By investing Pupil Premium funding in tutoring, schools can make a lasting impact on the lives of their pupils, helping them overcome barriers to success and achieve their academic goals.
“I genuinely didn’t think I was going to pass and I got a 6. It made a big difference. Things could be broken down whereas, before, I literally didn’t understand the lessons.”
Ruby, Year 11 pupil, St Saviour’s & St Olave’s School in London
Interested in high impact, low cost tutoring provision?
Pupil Premium funding is a crucial resource for schools committed to improving the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils. By understanding the funding rates, payment schedule, and accountability requirements, schools can make informed decisions about how to best allocate these funds.
Investing in targeted interventions like tutoring, alongside other evidence-based strategies, can make a significant difference in closing the attainment gap and ensuring that every pupil has the opportunity to succeed.
To find out more about how Action Tutoring can work with your school, you can get in touch below and one of our friendly Heads of Programmes will be in touch asap.
