Pupil Premium

What is Pupil Premium Funding?

The ‘Pupil Premium’ funding was introduced by the Government in April 2011 with the objective of narrowing the achievement gap between students from low income families and their peers (termed disadvantaged students).

Schools are free to spend the Pupil Premium as they see fit, however they are accountable for how they use the additional funding to support pupils from specific target groups. New measures have been included in the performance tables to show the achievement of disadvantaged students.

An analysis of the past performance of disadvantaged students suggested that there are a number of barriers to the achievement and wellbeing of these students:

• Literacy
• Numeracy
• Transition / Attendance
• Engagement / Lack of access to extra-curricular activities
• Suitability of curriculum
• Emotional and social issues

Merit is committed to ensuring support and resources are in place to enable our disadvantaged students to improve their academic outcomes.  Please read the information below which gives details of our Pupil Premium Grant and how we allocate the funding.

Year 7 literacy and numeracy catch-up premium

Additional funding received to support year 7 pupils who did not achieve the expected standard in reading or maths at the end of key stage 2 will be used to support intensive small-group tuition and individual tuition.

There has been no Year 7 funding received by Merit in 2020, 2021, 2022 or 2023.