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Pupil Premium, Catch Up Premium and FSM

The government provides additional funding to all schools based on the number of students who are assessed to come from more disadvantaged backgrounds. For the academic year 2023/2024, The Weald has been allocated £242,646. This funding is to help ensure that these students are supported to make progress at school. The Pupil Premium is allocated where students have been on Free School Meals (FSM) at any point over the past 6 years (Ever6), children who have been looked after continuously for at least 6 months (CLA) or children whose parents are in the armed forces.

The Weald School’s Pupil Premium Commitment:

  • Ensuring excellent academic progress

  • Knowing individual students’ stories and removing their barriers to learning

  • Developing resilience and self-esteem

The Weald School’s Pupil Premium Pledge:

  • To improve the quality of education for Pupil Premium students and raise attainment.

  • To embed a culture of high expectations where all 

  • Members of the school community know their roles and responsibilities in helping Pupil Premium students achieve their best at KS3, KS4 and in post-16 education.

  • To develop the inclusivity of the school community for Pupil Premium students and their parents. 

We focus on the areas that research tells us to make the greatest difference and a significant proportion of the budget is spent on ensuring good quality teaching and learning. There are a range of additional interventions that the school provides including:

  • Support of  basic literacy and numeracy skills with specialised tutors

  • Small group support through subject-specific English and Maths Learning Advisors who provide intensive support to raise skills in key areas when needed

  • Learning Mentors at KS3 and KS4 who work with a range of students to enhance general progress and develop learning habits across all their subjects

  • Use of peer-tutoring, which research shows is effective and enables older and younger students to work together to increase understanding

  • Use of some of the funding to support those students who find it difficult to provide the very basic equipment and experiences that are needed for success in specific subject areas

Enabling wider engagement and participation

We know from research and from experience that when students engage fully in school life, join clubs and participate in extra-curricular activities, they are more likely to be successful. Therefore we use some funding to subsidise eligible students to attend trips and access experiences so that all our students are able to benefit from all of the enhancement opportunities available at The Weald.

Promoting personal wellbeing and attendance

Our Learning Mentors help students develop personal understanding, resilience and self-esteem alongside learning habits. Attendance is also a priority; although the school average is high, there is irrefutable evidence that attendance is directly linked to successful outcomes. We at The Weald want this for all of our students.