A poll by the Sutton Trust and NFER found that 43% of senior leaders reported that they’re still having to use Pupil Premium to plug gaps elsewhere in their school’s budget.
Commenting on the Sutton Trust’s School funding and pupil premium poll, New Schools Network Director, Meg Powell-Chandler said:
“These findings are deeply concerning. As Pupil Premium funding continues to be eroded with schools forced to divert it elsewhere, we risk losing focus on improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.
“At the same time, freedoms that have helped schools deliver – including many free schools achieving strong outcomes for disadvantaged communities – are being rolled back.
“If the Government is serious about its ambition to halve the disadvantage gap by 2040, it must relentlessly focus on what works – restoring academy freedoms being stripped away in the Schools Bill, and protecting the Pupil Premium to support the evidence-led approaches proven to drive better outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.”