What is Pupil Premium funding?

The Pupil Premium is additional funding for publicly-funded schools in England. It’s designed to help disadvantaged pupils of all abilities perform better, and close the gap between them and their peers. At the RGS, we are committed to helping our students achieve results in line with all students nationally and to close the in-school attainment gap. We are also committed to ensuring that all students have the opportunity to participate in the rich co-curricular life of the school so that they develop the right values and character to aid their long-term success. Pupil Premium funding is used to further these aims.

How do we use Pupil Premium funds?

The Pupil Premium is used to provide a wide range of academic, co-curricular and pastoral support at the RGS. If a boy is Pupil Premium, his funding can be used both on an individual basis and also to fund activities that will benefit disadvantaged boys as a whole. In the past year, Pupil Premium money has funded all of the following activities:

• Small-group and 1:1 tuition
• Access to the GCSE Easter Revision Courses
• Funding of public exam revision talks and seminars run by Elevate Education
• Support for programmes aimed at improving literacy and numeracy
• Provision of resources to support learning, such as revision guides, iPads, calculators and stationery
• Access to the school’s breakfast club
• One-to-one appointments and advice from Connexions careers service
• Visits to universities to find out more about university life
• Support in buying uniform and PE kit
• Encouragement to participate in school trips and activities, including the CCF, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme and World Challenge expeditions
• Support in paying for music lessons

Who is eligible for Pupil Premium funding?

Pupil Premium funding is designed to support boys from backgrounds where there is financial hardship or constraints, boys who are in care or have left care, and boys who have one or more parents in the Armed Forces. Boys can become eligible for Pupil Premium funding by one of the following means:

Free School Meals (FSMs)

If you are currently eligible for FSMs or have been eligible for FSMs at any time in the last six years, then your son will also be eligible for Pupil Premium funding. Boys whose parents/carers receive one of the following benefits are entitled to FSMs and will therefore generate Pupil Premium funding for the School:

• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
• The guaranteed element of the State Pension Credit
• Income-related employment and support allowances
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Universal Credit with an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400
• Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual income of no more than £16,190

If your child qualifies for free school meals but takes a packed lunch, it’s still important that you tell us and submit a free school meals application, as this will enable us to claim Pupil Premium funding on their behalf.

Service Children

If one or both parents are currently working in the Armed Forces, or your son has been registered as a ‘service child’ in the school census at any point since January 2011, he will be eligible for Pupil Premium funding.

‘Looked After’ Children (adopted from care)

Schools in England can receive Pupil Premium funding for children adopted from care or who left care under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). Schools can also claim the Pupil Premium for children who left care under a child arrangements order (previously known as a residence order).

How do I apply for Pupil Premium funding?

Applying for Pupil Premium funding is simple. Fill out the Free School Meals application form and return it to the school’s Finance Office via reception. We submit the form to Buckinghamshire County Council, who check your eligibility. This is usually done within a week. We will then contact you to tell you whether your application has been successful or not.

Who should I contact if I would like more information?

Please contact the Assistant Headteacher Grant Sheehan, who oversees the school’s Pupil Premium strategy. Please contact him via admin@rgshw.com.