Pupil premium is funding to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in schools in England. Evidence shows that disadvantaged children generally face additional challenges in reaching their potential at school and often do not perform as well as other pupils. The primary aim is to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers.
We will receive the following funding for each child registered as eligible for free school meals, or who have been registered as eligible in the past 6 years:
- £1050 for pupils eligible for Free School Meals in Year 7 to Year 11
- £2570 for Children Looked After (CLA) by the local authority and each pupil who has been adopted from care or has left care
The Government believes schools are best placed to decide how best to assess what additional provision is required for the individual pupils within their responsibility, and our principles for the use of this funding are rooted in:
- Investing in high quality teaching;
- Targeted high-quality support;
- Wider support that includes developing cultural capital and supporting with behavioural and social and emotional needs
How is the funding spent and what impact does it have?
To view this years and previous years strategies please click here:
Literacy and Numeracy Funding
Catch-Up Premium
The literacy and numeracy catch-up premium gives schools additional funding to support Year 7 pupils who did not achieve the expected standard in reading or maths at the end of key stage 2 (KS2).
A pupil awarded a scaled score of 100 (a reading age of above 10 years) or more has met the expected standard in each test.
A pupil awarded a scaled score of 99 (a reading age of below 10 years) or less has not met the expected standard in the test.
At Holy Cross, we use this premium to provide strategies and interventions which are specifically aimed at pupils who require support in literacy and numeracy. A significant amount of the funding is spent on the Accelerated Reader programme. We also ensure that all pupils receive regular reading time in tutor time to encourage reading for pleasure. At least one tutor time is dedicated to reading each week and each tutor group is provided with a book box with a large selection of books to suit all reading ages. Furthermore, literacy and numeracy tutor activities are provided by the English and Maths department weekly to provide all pupils throughout the school with opportunities to develop their skills.
We have invested in the transition programme to support improved attainment on entry and each of our feeder primaries have liaised with our lead teacher of English. Each Year 6 pupil received a reading book, ‘Sky Hawk’ that they read at the end of year, alongside a literacy pack of activities to complement the book. A scheme of learning based on the book has been developed which will be used with pupils in their first term of Year 7 to bridge the gap.
We have targeted intervention groups in which pupils work in small groups with learning support specialists to carry out a personalised curriculum. They are able to develop their knowledge of phonics, handwriting, spellings and they carry out a range of programmes including IDL, Read, Write, Inc, ‘Toe to Toe’, numeracy work out and ‘Power of 2’ which enable learners to develop their literacy and numeracy skills.
Discover more
© Holy Cross Catholic High School, 2024. All Rights Reserved.