Pupil Premium
The Pupil Premium is additional funding allocated to schools to support specific groups of pupils who are vulnerable to possible underachievement. The funding is triggered by the number of children on roll who are eligible for Free School Meals (or registered for FSM in the past 6 years), those who are Looked After by the Local Authority (or Previously Looked After) and children of service families.
Schools are free to choose how they will spend the Pupil Premium but will be held accountable for how they use it to support pupils. Schools are required to report on how they have used the Pupil Premium and the impact this has had on the achievement of pupils. The Royal Kent School adds other funding to this to ensure that we can support all of our pupils, whether or not they trigger the additional funding.
The Royal Kent School monitors all pupils’ progress continuously. Class teachers discuss concerns with the SENCo so that appropriate interventions can be put in place. Half-termly Pupil Progress meeting and termly Senior Leadership Team meetings are used to review the impact of support on pupil progress.
What is its impact on learning and social development?
The impact of the Pupil Premium Grant is measured at the end of the academic year in relation to:
- Attendance
- Engagements in clubs and enrichment activities
- Parent participation
- Core subject progress
- Enjoyment of school
Is there an issue with eligible pupils not applying for FSM?
It is very important that parents let us know if they are in receipt of any of the following types of benefits, as we will not be automatically informed by the local government:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
Since September 2014, all pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are eligible for Free School Meals, however, it is still vital that parents inform us about their eligibility for these benefits, as it means the school will receive additional funding to support their children.
How will the impact of the spending of the Pupil Premium be measured?
To monitor progress on attainment, new measures will be included in the performance tables that will capture the achievement of students covered by the Pupil Premium. At The Royal Kent School, the usual cycle of data collection and the monitoring and tracking of the cohort’s attainment, will be used to inform student progress and enable the early identification of need, support and appropriate intervention.
Below is annually published information about:
- Our pupil premium allocation for the current academic year
- Details of how we intend to spend this year's allocation
- Details of how we spent the previous academic year’s allocation
- How it made a difference to the attainment of disadvantaged pupils
Annual Pupil premium reports
Pupil Premium Strategy Statement December 2023