What is Pupil Premium and what is it for?

The Pupil Premium is additional funding provided to publicly funded schools in England to improve the academic achievement of disadvantaged pupils of all abilities and to help close the attainment gaps between them and their peers. At Juniper Woodland Primary School, we are committed to using Pupil Premium funding to ensure that every pupil can achieve their full potential, regardless of their background or circumstances.

As Sir John Dunford, former Pupil Premium Champion for the Government, states:

“Underpinning the process, schools should focus on the quality of teaching. There is solid evidence that poor teaching disproportionately disadvantages deprived children. Equally, evidence tells us that excellent teaching disproportionately benefits them. So high-quality teaching must be at the core of all pupil premium work. It follows that it is legitimate to spend PP funding on raising the quality of teaching.”

It is important to note that Pupil Premium funding is not an individualised budget for each child. Schools are responsible for deciding how best to allocate the funds to have the greatest impact on pupil achievement, ensuring that resources are used strategically to benefit all disadvantaged pupils.