Pupil Premium Statement 2023 – 24
At this school and across schools nationally, the period from mid-March 2020 until the end of the academic year has been dominated by the outbreak of COVID-19. The much reduced opening of mainstream schools in March, followed by the wider opening of schools from 1st June 2020, has had a significant impact on the ability to implement many of the actions and strategies outlined in the Pupil Premium Strategy covering the period 2019-20.
Consequently, it has not been possible to thoroughly evaluate all planned strategies. However, where possible, a review has taken place and provision adapted to support our most disadvantaged pupils and their families.
Across Astrea Academy Trust, we have continued to strive to address any barriers faced by pupils who experience social disadvantage, including additional issues faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The evidence-informed approaches we adopt across the Trust are rooted in tacking disadvantage in the classroom through supporting quality first teaching, targeted approaches/interventions and in relation to supporting wider pupil level issues such as attendance. All of which are in line with the EEF Guide to the Pupil Premium.
Many of the pupil premium chosen approaches are longer term and it will be necessary and desirable for leaders to continue some of the planned 2019-20 actions into the 2020-21 academic year and beyond. This is in line with the EEF guidance on Putting Evidence to Work – A School’s Guide to Implementation which states that interventions need to be implemented effectively and over time, allowing for new activities to be embedded and evaluated to create sustainable positive outcomes for disadvantaged learners.
Pupils eligible to receive this funding are in four groups:
- Those entitled to free school meals (FSM)
- Those who have been entitled to FSM during the last six years (Ever6)
- Children in care or looked after (CLA)
- Services children
The Government believes that the Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals and their wealthier peers by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most.
The Ofsted report on the use of the premium (Pupil Premium: Reference 120197: September 2012) outlined how the premium had been used in 262 schools. This report showed how difficult it often is to disaggregate pupil premium funding from general school funding. Netherwood Ofsted reports say:
“Younger pupils are making good progress in improving their reading skills. The school is achieving this through its good use of the Year 7 catch-up programme.”
“The needs of pupils known to be eligible for the Pupil Premium are identified clearly. Evidence kept by the school shows that general improvements to the quality of teaching and specific additional help are proving effective in increasing the rate of progress of these pupils, particularly in Years 7 to 9.”
At Netherwood, the focus has been on raising achievement. In some areas it is possible to identify where there has been direct spending of the premium ‘on’ the target pupils. In most, the spending has been ‘for’ the pupils. Money spent ‘for’ the pupils is likely to have an impact on all pupils. Without the premium, the additional spending would not have been possible and the extra support would not be in place. Two examples of this are when looking at staffing. The Nurture provision in KS3 has allowed us to reduce class sizes for two groups of pupils at risk of not succeeding in mainstream. It has allowed for more personal support within class, increased teaching time for English and targeted intervention for pupils who require it. HLTA support in Maths has allowed for targeted one to one and small group interventions for those falling behind in both key stages.
If you require paper copies of any polices then please do not hesitate to contact the academy using the Contact link above.
If you require paper copies of any polices then please do not hesitate to contact the academy using the Contact link above.
Impact of Pupil Premium Funding from September 2019 to September 2020, please download here.
Impact of Pupil Premium Funding from September 2018 to September 2019, please download here.
Impact of Pupil Premium Funding from September 2017 to September 2018, please download here.
Impact of Pupil Premium Funding from September 2016 to September 2017, please download here.
Impact of Pupil Premium Funding from September 2015 to September 2016, please download here.
Impact of Pupil Premium Funding from September 2014 to September 2015, please download here.
Impact of Pupil Premium Funding 2013 to 2014, please download here.