12.12.11
Pupil premium to rise
Pupil premium funding is set to benefit up to half a million more children from disadvantaged backgrounds, the Government is expected to announce today.
The premium is £488 per child, which goes to schools on top of their main funding. It has traditionally only been available to those receiving free school dinners, but will change to apply to anyone who has been registered for free meals in the past six years.
This move is hoped to promote equality in schools, and help poorer children to increase their level of educational attainment.
Children’s Minister Sarah Teather said: “In a fair society, it’s the Government’s responsibility to close the gulf in achievement, where the poorest children are less likely to leave school with five good GCSEs than their less-deprived classmates.
“[The pupil premium] will help schools tackle the inequalities that have been a part of our state system for far too long. Thousands of children will finally be getting the extra support they need to succeed.”
The total funding for the pupil premium in 2011-12 is £625m, and this is due to rise to £2.5bn per year by 2014-15.
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