Pupil Premium
The Government believes that funding for Disadvantaged Pupils, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their wealthier peers, by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most.
The amount received is dependent on the number of children who are eligible and have claimed for Free School Meals (FSM) at any time in the last six years. All schools are required to report on the amount of funding and how this is being used. In addition, children whose parents work in the Forces or Children in Care also receive a grant. Schools have the freedom to spend the additional funding in a way they think will best support the raising of attainment for the most vulnerable pupils.
At Folkestone Academy, our ultimate objectives for disadvantaged pupils are to:
Improve Attendance: Address the disparities in attendance rates to ensure disadvantaged pupils have equal access to learning opportunities.
Raise Attainment: Close the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers, particularly in core subjects, to enable successful outcomes at the end of Key Stage 4.
Enhance Engagement: Build stronger connections with families of disadvantaged pupils to ensure strategies are consistently supported both at school and at home.
Support a Growing Cohort: Respond effectively to the increasing proportion of disadvantaged pupils in the school by scaling support systems and resources.
Boost Literacy: Improve reading ages of disadvantaged pupils, enabling them to better access and succeed across the curriculum.
Our current Pupil Premium Strategy Plan works towards these objectives by:
Attendance Strategies: Implementing mentoring programs, structured attendance reviews, home visits, and formal Non-Attendance Intervention (NTI) processes to reduce absenteeism.
Academic Interventions: Primarily we believe quality teaching first and learning well with their peers will have the biggest impact on outcomes for PP pupils. The school strives to do that in all our classrooms. To supplement this we will also deliver tailored support such as small-group tutoring, structured interventions, and exam preparation workshops to address gaps in knowledge and skills.
Parental Engagement Initiatives: Hosting workshops, providing clear communication channels, and conducting targeted outreach to encourage active involvement from families.
Scaled Support Systems: Recruiting additional staff, such as EAL specialists and intervention leads, and investing in staff CPD to meet the needs of a growing cohort.
Reading Development Programs: Introducing reading interventions, daily supported reading sessions, and literacy-focused CPD for teachers to address gaps in reading ability.
Key Principles of Our Strategy Plan:
Equity in Education: Ensuring all pupils have access to high-quality teaching and resources, regardless of their starting points.
Holistic Support: Recognising the interconnected challenges of attendance, attainment, and engagement, and addressing these as part of a comprehensive strategy.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Using performance and attendance data to identify needs, monitor progress, and refine interventions.
Scalable Solutions: Building capacity within the school to meet the needs of an increasing proportion of disadvantaged pupils effectively.
Collaborative Approaches: Partnering with families, external agencies, and staff to create a supportive environment for every disadvantaged pupil.
By embedding these principles into our Pupil Premium Strategy, we aim to ensure disadvantaged pupils thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, equipping them for future success.