Disadvantaged Student Funding
Disadvantaged Student Funding (previously PP)
As part of the government’s national strategy money is given to support students (under Pupils Premium) on Free School Meals, Looked After, Adopted from Care and those whose parents are in service. This money is to be spent on the school’s Disadvantaged Strategy which will raise the achievement of students and therefore close the gap between disadvantaged and non- disadvantaged.
In the year 2022 – 2023 our pupil premium numbers are 18%. Money is also given for catch up.
Our full overview of funding can be seen – click here
Funding
The annual breakdown of how ‘Pupil Premium’ funding is used at Dowdales, to ensure that every disadvantaged student makes excellent progress, is available below.
Funding Overview
How Funding is used to Support Disadvantaged Students
- All teaching staff follow explicit guidance detailing strategies to support individual students’ progress in the classroom so as to ensure that they make the excellent progress expected of them.
- Students are given additional one to one support with their English and Mathematics.
- Nurture groups in English and Mathematics have been created across Key Stage 3.
- A ‘Basic Skills’ group for Year 11 has been set up to teach examination skills.
- Inclusion provision is provided.
- Students are allocated mentors to support their academic progress and to provide broader support.
- Strategies are in place to improve students’ attendance
- Senior staff work closely with families to remove barriers to learning
- Inclusion support to improve behaviour for learning is provided
- CEIAG advice and support is provided
- Students’ welfare including mental health and well-being is supported via our ‘Head Start’ programme.
- Social and emotional aspects of students’ learning and development are promoted through our lunchtime and after school clubs and activities.
- The Disadvantaged Strategy is overseen by the Headteacher and Governors. It is led by the Headteacher (EA) who is the ‘Disadvantaged Champion’.
- The Deputy Headteacher (JB) leads the Key Stage 3, including disadvantaged, Intervention Strategy group.
- Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 Disadvantaged Intervention leads drive academic progress.
- Deputy and Assistant Headteachers (RW and AD) lead the Inclusion and CLA strategy.
- There is a strong focus on data analysis at group level combining academic and pastoral information.
- Fortnightly Disadvantaged Strategy Group meetings are held to share knowledge of students’ strengths/weaknesses and impact.
- Senior staff are deployed to support the Disadvantaged Students Strategy and individual students as required.
- The Disadvantaged Champion and Assistant Headteacher (MR) lead the Attendance Strategy, including for Disadvantaged students.
Support and Priorities
Staff supporting Disadvantaged Students
Aim
To ensure outstanding outcomes for Pupil Premium students so that they can continue to thrive and achieve post 16.
Measured by
Reducing the gap (working to no gap) between Pupil Premium and Non Pupil Premium students in terms of all outcomes.
Definition of Pupil Premium
“The pupil premium is currently paid for each pupil who is eligible for FSM within the last six years, pupils who have been in local authority care for one day or more and pupils who have left local authority care because of one of the following: adoption; a special guardianship order; a child arrangement order. It is also paid for pupils continuously looked after by the local authority for more than six months. In addition, children with parents in the armed service are eligible for the service premium. This definition was introduced in April 2014” DFE Research paper November 2015.
Year 7 Catch-up Funding
As with ‘Pupil Premium’ funding all mainstream and non-mainstream schools receive ‘Catch Up Funding’ to support students who entered Year 7 below national attainment levels.
At school we use funding in Year 7 to accelerate progress in English and Mathematics. This is done through small group teaching by excellent classroom practitioners and specialist teaching support.
The funding that we receive in school and how we spend it to support Year 7 students is available at the top of this page along with the Annual Review of the impact of this spend.
Free School Meals and School Clothing Grants
The online application process is held within the Westmorland and Furness Citizen portal where parents and carers can complete the school admissions process.
By using the online process parents/carers are able to check eligibility without waiting for a phone call/email from the Service Centre
Parents/carers can apply online, but please review the eligibility criteria before submitting an online application:
For further information regarding Free School Meals visit the Westmorland and Furness website.
To contact Westmorland and Furness regarding free school meals call 0300 373 3300
Free School Meals and Clothing Grants
PO BOX 415
Carlisle
CA1 9GU