The Pupil Premium is an allocation of additional funding provided to schools to support specific groups of children who are vulnerable to possible underachievement. These include pupils who are entitled to free school meals, those looked after by the local authority, children adopted from care under the Adoption and Children Act 2002 and children who have left care under a Special Guardianship or Residence Order and children of armed service personnel.

The intended effect of this funding is to accelerate progress and raise attainment. In most cases the Pupil Premium is allocated to schools and is clearly identifiable. It is for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium, allocated to schools per FSM pupil, is spent, since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility.