Pupil Premium

The latest news, analysis, research and advice regarding disadvantaged pupils, including information on funding, free school meals and closing the attainment gap

Monday

9th Jun 2025

The FSM and pupil premium funding row explained
A DfE announcement on extending free school meals has sparked a political war of words. Tes digs into the numbers behind the conflict
Free school meals

Wednesday

4th Jun 2025

Free school meals expanded - but no extra pupil premium cash
DfE lifts the £7,400 income cap for accessing FSM – but this won’t result in more pupil premium cash for schools and it is unclear how many extra pupils will benefit
Free school meals expanded no extra pupil premium cash

Friday

30th May 2025

20 children’s books set in flats
In the move to diversify bookshelves, schools shouldn’t forget about representing different types of homes, writes Becka White, as she shares her list of recommendations
20 children’s books set in flats

Friday

23rd May 2025

Revealed: The ‘fundamental unfairness’ of exam marking reviews
Tes findings expose the ‘disincentives’ for deprived schools in pursuing reviews of GCSE and A-level exam marks, sparking calls for changes to the system
Exam marking unfairness bigger portion
Exclusive

Thursday

22nd May 2025

Is this the way to close the early years attainment gap?
Boys eligible for free school meals aren’t reaching a good level of development as often as their peers, writes Sarah Charlton – but there are practices that can help
early years attainment gap gingerbread man

Monday

17th Mar 2025

Disadvantage gap: why the impact of absence is now clear
An author of a new EPI report on the link between absence and the disadvantage attainment gap outlines the key findings – and why it should spur action
Crossing a cravasse

Friday

7th Mar 2025

DfE has ‘limited’ knowledge of where £9.2bn pupil premium goes
MPs warn schools are using money aimed at supporting disadvantaged pupils to plug gaps elsewhere – but leaders say more funding is needed
DfE has ‘limited’ knowledge of where £9.2bn pupil premium goes

Thursday

6th Mar 2025

Many pupils in poverty missing out on free school meals
With research revealing the gap between the number of children in poverty and those getting free school meals, the Education Policy Institute echoes calls for automatic enrolment
Many pupils in poverty missing out on free school meals

Monday

17th Feb 2025

9 out of 10 areas with highest absence are in the North
A coalition of northern-based charities and organisations calls on the government to tackle the root causes of pupil absence
The North of England is worst affected by unauthorised pupil absence, analysis shows

Friday

17th Jan 2025

Give private schools public funds to widen access, says commission
Pupil premium funding could be given to private schools that take on more disadvantaged pupils, says commission funded by the independent sector
Give private schools public funds to widen access, says commission
Exclusive

Tuesday

10th Dec 2024

Early years pupil premium rising by 45%
Government also announces a £75 million expansion fund for extra early education places and staff
Early years pupil premium rising by 45%

Tuesday

3rd Dec 2024

Why education struggles to warm up economic ‘cold spots’
If there is one area of education where there will always be agreement, it’s the need to tackle the ‘baked in’ inequality of impoverished areas, writes Alex Quigley
Child with cup of tea