Pupil Premium (PP) is money which is delegated to schools to ensure that disadvantaged children are making good or better progress to ensure that their attainment reaches ARE (Age Related Expectations). The link between free school meal eligibility and underachievement is strong.  The PP seeks to tackle this inequality in educational outcomes.  The premium is intended to help schools to provide targeted support to improve the life chances of children from lower income families and young people who face additional challenges in their lives so that they can reach their full potential.

PP funding is targeted primarily at:

• Children from low income families who are eligible for free school meals (FSM);
• Children who are, or who have been, in receipt of FSM in the past 6 years (ever6 FSM);
• Children who have been looked after (CLA) continuously for more than 6 months, and
• Children whose parents are currently serving in the armed forces.

Our Ambition

In Wiltshire Pupil Premium children are an invisible minority spread across a wide area. Our aim at St Mark’s is to meet the needs of each and every pupil. We aim to raise the attainment of Pupil Premium Pupils and thus close the gap.  By knowing our pupils, identifying their barriers, devising desired outcomes and identifying the success criteria to meet these outcomes we aim to ensure that our PP pupil’s attainment is in line with the national average. (In the future we will aspire to be above the national average). We are looking for equity, not equality; Pupil Premium is about giving an extra ‘leg up’.

Please click on the following links to find out more information:

What is the school’s policy on Pupil Premium?

Am I entitled to claim FSM for my child?

How was PPM spent in 2013-14 and what impact did it have?

Pupil Premium Money for 2015-16 September onwards

This year we have £41,160. This money will be used for:

• Teaching Assistants for Intervention Groups
• 1:1 support for individuals
• Nurture with ELSA trained TA
• PLA to support families
• Leadership and Management

In addition to this, the pupil premium children will receive support and be included on all extra-curricular activities and trips which may support and widen their life and learning experiences.

These children are closely monitored through regular assessment, pupil data tracking so we can see the impact that this funding is having on raising standards and ensuring  these children will benefit from this support.