What is pupil premium?

Schools receive special funding to invest in support for more disadvantaged pupils, so that all children have the best chance possible of reaching their academic potential.  Introduced in 2011, pupil premium funding is based on the number of pupils in a school who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years (known as 'Ever 6 FSM').  Schools also receive funding for some other children, for instance looked after children or children of service personnel.  The criteria are not necessarily the same every year.

Like other schools, Ashton publishes the amount of funding it has received, details of how it has spent that funding, and reports what difference it has made.  Below is that information for the past full academic year, and the school's allocation and objectives for 2016/17.  Note that the latter will be updated when the 2017/18 financial year figures are made available to us in spring 2017.

Pupil premium grant objectives:

• To ensure pupils eligible for pupil premium make expected progress or better.
• To enhance self esteem in pupils in order to impact on progress and attainment.

The fund will be used as follows:

• Specialist educational support services (e.g. educational psychologists, specialist teachers).
• Individual and group intervention programmes in English and Maths.
• Classroom and SEN support to ensure maximum progress for pupil premium eligible children.
• Resources to support specific programmes.
• 1:1 tuition for identified pupils in Maths and English.
• Music tuition fees for pupils.
• Books.
• Subsidised school trips and visitors to the school.