Pupil Premium was introduced by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2011, as additional funding for pupils who are eligible for Free School Meals, who are Looked After Children amid/or are Service children. This is because the DfE has recognised that good education is the key to improving young people’s life chances. This is particularly true for children from low-income families, or who are Looked After or Service Children, who are less likely than other children to leave school with good GCSE results. The Pupil Premium, using additional resources from outside the school’s budget, is intended to address the current inequalities by ensuring that funding reaches the pupils who need it most. The DfE has stated that schools have the right to spend this funding as they see fit based upon their knowledge of pupil needs.

“Schools, headteachers and teachers will decide how to use the Pupil Premium allocation, as they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for individual pupils.”

DFE Website

Pupil Premium at St John's

At St John’ s we strive for achievement for all our pupils. Our pastoral care and rigorous monitoring and tracking of all pupils helps us to identify those pupils who are most at risk of not making sufficient progress and helps us to plan and implement good intervention strategies. 

St John's Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2022-2025

How can parents/carers contribute to the success of the Pupil Premium Scheme?

Parent support and involvement is a key factor in raising standards. If you would like help or advice in supporting your child, please speak to your child's class teacher or our Family Liaison Officer. 

If you think your child may be entitled to Free School Meals (this is different to Universal Infant Free School Meals, whereby all children in Years R, 1 and 2 automatically receive free meals), please apply.  In addition to your child receiving free lunches, you may receive food and/or energy vouchers via the Local Authority. Free School Meals status is open to children in ALL year groups.

Your child may be entitled to Free School Meals status if you are in receipt of any of the following:

• 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)

If you think your child may be eligible, please apply via this link .