Pupil Premium

Aims

1. This policy aims to:
   1. provide background information about the Pupil Premium Grant so that all members of the School community understand its purpose and which students are eligible;
   2. set out how the School will make decisions on Pupil Premium spending;
   3. summarise the roles and responsibilities of those involved in managing the Pupil Premium in School.

Legislation and Guidance

1. This policy is based on the Pupil Premium Conditions of Grant Guidance (2022-23), published by the Education and Skills Funding Agency. It is also based on guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) on Virtual School Heads’ Responsibilities concerning the Pupil Premium, and the Service Premium.
2. In addition, this policy refers to the DfE’s information on what academies should publish online.

Purpose of the Grant

1. The Pupil Premium Grant is additional funding allocated to publicly funded schools to raise the attainment of disadvantaged students.
2. The School will use the grant to support these groups, which comprise students with a range of different abilities, to narrow any achievement gaps between them and their peers.
3. The School also recognises that not all students eligible for Pupil Premium funding will have lower attainment than their peers. In such cases, the grant will be used to help improve students’ progress and attainment so that they can reach their full potential.
4. The Service Premium is additional funding to publicly funded schools to support students with parents in the armed forces. The Service Premium is not part of the Pupil Premium as the rules to attract the Service Premium are different. This funding is to help with pastoral support.

Use of the Grant

1. The Headteacher, in consultation with the Governors and relevant senior staff, will decide how the Pupil Premium and Service Premium is spent for the benefit of the entitled students.
2. Funding will be allocated based on need with priority groups and individuals duly identified.
3. The School welcomes dialogue with parents or carers of children who are in receipt of the Pupil Premium or Service Premium but it is the School, not the parent, that decides how the Pupil Premium and Service Premium is to be spent.
4. Refer to the School's Pupil Premium Review for information on how the Pupil Premium Grant is used and the barriers Pupil Premium students at Bourne Grammar School face.

Eligible Students

1. The Pupil Premium is allocated to the School based on the number of eligible students in Years 7-11.
2. Eligible students fall into the categories explained below:
   1. Ever 6 Free School Meals: Students recorded in the most recent January school census who are known to have been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last 6 years (as determined by the DfE’s latest conditions of grant guidance).
      1. This includes students first known to be eligible for free school meals in the most recent January census.
      2. It does not include students who received universal infant free school meals but would not have otherwise received free lunches.
   2. Looked after children: Students who are in the care of, or provided with accommodation by, a local authority in England or Wales
   3. Post-looked after children: Students recorded in the most recent January census and alternative provision census who were looked after by an English or Welsh local authority immediately before being adopted, or who left local authority care on a special guardianship order or child arrangements order.
3. The Service Premium is allocated to the School based on the number of eligible students in Years 7-11.
4. Eligible students fall into the categories explained below:
   1. Ever 6 Service Children: Students in Years 7-11 with a parent serving in the regular armed forces or:
      1. who have been registered as a ‘Service Child’ in the School census at any point in the last 6 years (as determined by the DfE’s latest conditions of grant guidance), including those first recorded as such in the most recent January census.
      2. who are in receipt of a child pension from the Ministry of Defence because one of their parents died while serving in the armed forces.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. The Headteacher and Assistant Headteacher (Pastoral) are responsible for:
   1. keeping this policy up to date, and ensuring that it is implemented across the School;
   2. ensuring that all School staff are aware of their role in raising the attainment of disadvantaged students and supporting students with parents in the armed forces;
   3. planning Pupil Premium spending and keeping this under constant review, using an evidence-based approach and working with Virtual School Heads where appropriate;
   4. monitoring the attainment and progress of students eligible for the Pupil Premium to assess the impact of the School’s use of the funding;
   5. reporting on the impact of Pupil Premium spending to the Governors on a regular basis;
   6. publishing information on the School’s use of the Pupil Premium on the School website, in line with the DfE’s Pupil Premium guidance and with the use of the templates they provide.
   7. providing relevant training for staff, as necessary, on supporting disadvantaged students and raising attainment;
2. The Governors are responsible for:
   1. holding the Headteacher to account for the implementation of this policy;
   2. ensuring the School is using Pupil Premium funding appropriately, in line with the rules set out in the conditions of grant;
   3. monitoring the attainment and progress of students eligible for the Pupil Premium, in conjunction with the Headteacher, to assess the impact and effectiveness of the School’s use of the funding;
   4. challenging the Headteacher to use the Pupil Premium in the most effective way.
3. Teachers are responsible for:
   1. ensuring they are familiar with the School’s Pupil Premium cohort;
   2. setting high expectations for all students, including those eligible for the Pupil Premium;
   3. identifying students whose attainment is not improving in response to interventions funded by the Pupil Premium, and highlighting these individuals to the relevant Subject Leader or Head of Year, who in turn will report to the Assistant Headteacher (Pastoral);
   4. using a range of teaching and learning strategies and intervention in order to close the attainment gap between Pupil Premium and non-Pupil Premium students;
4. Virtual School Heads are responsible for:
   1. managing Pupil Premium funding for children looked after by a local authority, and allocating it to schools. Their responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
      1. identifying the eligible looked after children and informing the local authority;
      2. making sure methods for allocating and spending benefits looked after children without delay;
      3. working with each looked after child’s educational setting to put together a personal education plan, agree how Pupil Premium funding will be spent to meet the need identified in this plan, and ensure the funding is spent in this way;
      4. demonstrating how Pupil Premium funding is raising the achievement of looked after children.

Ownership and Date of next review

1. Policy owned by: Pastoral and Community committee.
2. Last reviewed and approved on: 1 March 2023
3. Next review due: February 2024