Pupil premium bolstered by 58 per child
Lauren Higgs
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Schools are to receive an extra 58 for every child eligible for the pupil premium after fewer children registered for free school meals than expected this year.
The cash boost takes the total pupil premium per child to £488 for 2011/12.
Children’s minister Sarah Teather said the extra money would directly benefit the pupils who need it most.
"We know that just 27 per cent of pupils on free school meals get five good GCSE grades compared with 54 per cent of non-free school meal pupils," she said. "This extra funding will help tackle this inequality and enable schools to provide the extra support they need to reach their full potential."
At the Liberal Democrat Party’s annual conference last month, Teather announced that funding for the premium will double to £1.25bn next year. It will rise again each year until 2014/15 when it will be worth £2.5bn.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg also announced a new £50m pupil premium summer school programme to help disadvantaged pupils make the transition from primary to secondary school. The scheme will provide two weeks of additional teaching for up to 100,000 pupils annually.
Children in care will also receive the increased pupil premium this year. The children of service families qualify for a special pupil premium of £200 each.
