Pupil Premium

Publicly-funded schools in England receive extra funding from the government to help them improve the attainment of their disadvantaged pupils. Evidence shows that children from disadvantaged backgrounds generally face extra challenges in reaching their potential at school and often do not perform as well as their peers. The pupil premium grant is designed to allow schools to help disadvantaged pupils by improving their progress and the results they achieve.

Pupils are classed as disadvantaged if they are eligible for free school meals (FSM), or if they have claimed FSM within the last 6 years. Schools also receive funding for children who are looked after or who have previously been in local authority care. 

It is the responsibility of the Head Teachers, in consultation with the Governing Body, to decide how the Pupil Premium is spent.

Our approach

At Ridgeway, we believe that all children have the right to succeed, to feel valued and to develop the skills and attributes to be lifelong learners. Our approach starts with the unique child, and centres on individual needs and next steps to ensure progress both academically and beyond the curriculum. Investing in children’s emotional well-being and developing the skills they need for the future are just as significant as ensuring academic success.

At Ridgeway the needs of pupils eligible for Pupil Premium vary greatly across the school, with individuals requiring very different programmes of support. Pupils eligible for Pupil Premium include previously looked after children, looked after children, pupils with SEND, those who are vulnerable and pupils who are high ability. Not all children entitled to the pupil premium are disadvantaged, and not all disadvantaged children are entitled to the pupil premium. Ensuring a creative, rich and varied approach to enhancing disadvantaged pupils’ learning and development is essential to ensuring individual needs are met.

We are continually informed by research into the most effective ways to enhance teaching and learning, and ensure that our strategy builds on the approaches that have been proven to have greatest impact on raising attainment, such as those outlined in the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) Toolkit. These approaches will benefit all children, but have greatest impact on the children who need it most.

We are dedicated to increasing the rate of progress and overall achievement for disadvantaged children through three key areas of focus:

1.     Quality Teaching and Learning – Ensuring highly effective quality-first teaching for all, through a broad, balanced and holistic curriculum

2.     Targeted Academic Support – Strategies that focus on targeting specific gaps, including one-to-one and small group learning

3.     Wider Strategies – Strategies that focus on the most significant non-academic barriers, including social and emotional development, attendance, behaviour and family engagement. Also includes strategies that focus on enhancing the opportunities for disadvantaged pupils, widening pupils’ experiences and offering opportunities for leadership and success.

Our strategy involves investing most in measures that impact the quality of teaching and learning as this has the widest impact on all pupils, but particularly those who are disadvantaged.

RECOVERY PREMIUM

Recovery premium is part of the government's package of funding to support pupils whose education has been impacted by COVID-19. The recovery premium is focused on pupils who are eligible for pupil premium. This is because of the additional impact of the pandemic on these children. Our recovery premium strategy and spending is included within our Pupil Premium strategy. 

To find out more about how we allocate the Pupil Premium at Ridgeway, and to find out if your child might be eligible, please select the relevant link in the drop-down menu below:

Schools for Success 2020–2021

We are one of only 6% of London schools who are part of the London Mayor’s Schools for Success programme recognising our commitment to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, our dedication to reducing educational inequality and attaining exceptional results for children previously struggling academically.

Created in 2017, the Schools for Success programme aims to enhance the support given to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The programme acknowledges primary and secondary schools that prioritise progress for their lowest attaining pupils, are excelling in their performance overall and sharing their work with other schools through a series of webinars made available to all London schools.

“I’d like to congratulate the staff of Ridgeway Primary School for their exceptional work. We created Schools for Success to recognise the positive impact that teachers, head teachers, teaching assistants, support staff and governors are making every day to support students and reduce inequalities, and this school’s commitment to being supportive and inclusive sets a great example. Covid-19 has presented unforeseen challenges across our city but Ridgeway Primary School has done a fantastic job in maintaining excellence during a very difficult time. Working together we can make sure that no young Londoner is left behind”  Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan