In April 2011, the Government introduced the Pupil Premium Grant funding which is additional funding given to schools to support pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, so that these students attain as well as their non- disadvantaged peers.
Government and National documents now refer to Pupil Premium students as Disadvantaged students. This includes students who are or have been in receipt of free school meals within the last 6 years, students who have been adopted from care and children of parents in the armed forces. Schools can decide how to spend the Pupil Premium grant, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility. In doing so, funding is strategically aimed at tackling significant barriers to learning for disadvantaged students within the school and wider community context. This funding targets and supports pupils who are or are at risk of being vulnerable in terms of poor attendance to school, disengagement, low aspirations, low self-esteem and confidence, and outcomes that are below expectation, thereby improving their life chances.
