Pupil Premium funding is a government initiative designed to help raise attainment of students regardless of their background or financial situation. It is provided for students who:

• Are registered for Free School Meals;
• Have been registered for Free School Meals at any point in the past 6 years;
• Are, or have been, in care;
• Have parents in the armed forces.

At Heworth Grange High School we received an extra £955 (figures for the 2020/21 financial year) for every eligible student who is registered for Free School Meals.

This extra funding could make a real difference to the quality of education we offer. For example, we have previously used Pupil Premium funding for:

• Accelerated reading packages to raise reading ages and ability for students;
• Extra participation in sports including football and netball tournaments;
• Raising aspirational interventions by mentoring groups of vulnerable students;
• Allocating additional Learning Support Assistants in the classroom;
• Social and emotional learning for our students;
• Organising peer tutoring interventions.

Your child might be eligible if you access:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Working Tax Credit run-on
• Universal Credit, provided you have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400 (£616.67 per month)

No. Students who are registered for Free School Meals do not have to eat them. If you are eligible, but you want your child to have a packed lunch, you should still register because the academy will receive the funding which can support your child in other ways.