Pupil Premium
Pupil Premium funding is a “ring fenced” amount of money devolved to School to be designated in supporting those students eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) or who have been eligible in the last six years; registered as ‘Looked After’ continually for more than six months, or who have parents who are currently or have been in the in the Military Services in the last four years.
At Spalding Grammar School, we utilise this funding in a number of ways to allow those pupils who fall into the above categories to have the same life chances as any one of their peers. The funding is used to remove any barriers these pupils may face with their learning, but also to enable them to attend certain extracurricular activities and educational visits they would otherwise be unable to access. We believe that every student in our school community should have the same opportunities to succeed in life and this funding is one element of this journey to success.
How do we spend this money?
Academic Year (2022-23)
For a plan detailing how we plan to spend our Pupil Premium allocation this year and how we spent Pupil Premium last year, please read the strategy document below.
Despite the school year being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic the gap between our Year 11 Pupil Premium students and their peers was not significant for their attainment or attendance prior to the lockdown. Our Pupil Premium funding was utilised to support students with their remote learning enabling them to continue with as little disruption as possible with their learning leading to all Year 11 Pupil Premium students attaining a Grade 4 or above in their English and Maths GCSE’s. The enrichment of our careers support via the purchase of UNIFROG supported all students to have an increased access of careers guidance and information. This resulted in all of our Pupil Premium students accessing the appropriate Post-16 and Post-18 courses for them to study.
We were also able to fund from the Pupil Premium funding learning materials for individual students. This included Art equipment, classroom resource packs, ancillary payments, revision guides, SEN resources and extra-curricular activities.
We were very conscious that not all students were able to access educational visits due to their cost. Those students who attracted Pupil Premium funding were supported with the costs of those Educational Visits which enhanced their educational experience but also where attendance on these visits impacted positively on their learning and progress once back in school.
Students who attracted Pupil Premium funding also requested help with funding towards instrumental music lessons which are delivered by peripatetic teachers from the County Music Service.
Funding was also used for:
- continued funding of our School Wellbeing Officer and Attendance Officer
- school lunches where appropriate
- curriculum materials and equipment
- sport activities
- summer sports for incoming Y7
- ICT hardware
- transport for LAC pupils
- licences for Online resources
Whilst Pupil Premium money was paid to the school for individual circumstances, Spalding Grammar School looks to spend the funding in ways which will support the majority of Pupil Premium pupils to enable them to ensure their academic and personal progress is in line with their peers. Parents/Carers may also make requests for individual pupils to have funding spent in specific ways e.g. educational visits but this cannot always be granted.