Purpose of Pupil Premium

The pupil premium grant, introduced in 2011, is funding to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged 5-16-year-olds in state-funded schools in England.

It is important that schools use the wealth of evidence of ‘what works’ evaluated by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), alongside teachers’ professional expertise and knowledge of disadvantage in their schools, to drive maximum impact from the pupil premium. 

Pupil premium is not a personal budget for individual pupils and schools do not have to spend pupil premium so that it solely benefits pupils who meet the funding criteria. Pupil premium can be used to support other pupils with identified needs, or used for whole class interventions that will benefit all pupils.

Using Pupil Premium - Guidance for School Leaders - February 2024