Narrowing the gap between pupil premium pupils and

Narrowing the gap between pupil premium pupils and their peers is not an easy task, but a substantial number of schools have shown that it can be done and that the attainment of pupil premium-eligible pupils can be raised to the national average for non-pupil premium pupils and beyond. To do this requires a rigorous approach to the spending of pupil premium funding and policies should be regularly evaluated in all schools. This rigorous evaluation must be carried out within schools by the leadership team and governing body. It may also be beneficial – even if the school is doing quite well for pupil premium-eligible pupils – to commission an external review from time to time. Using system leaders like national leaders of education to provide an objective assessment can help you to ensure that the funding is making as much impact as possible. Sir John Dunford

The review The purpose of a pupil premium review is to use an evidence-based approach to assess how much impact a school is making when spending its pupil premium, and how it might increase its effectiveness. When it comes to the pupil premium, all schools should be using proven intervention strategies rather than simply doing more of what they've always done. Trying something different which is known to be effective, rather than staying with well-established approaches that are comfortable, is a key principle in effective pupil premium use.

The pupil premium review is a powerful tool to help schools deliver improvement and to achieve greater and wider impact with the funding they receive Within our two teaching schools there are 4 headteachers who have been trained by a representative from the Df. E expert group (The Heath School) who developed the review programme Jill Wraith, Jill Shaw, Barbara Middleton & Tim Jones There also a number of PP reviewers who have been trained through Churchill

Completing a PP review is an opportunity for key staff, leaders and Governors to work with an independent professional whose only focus is the Pupil Premium offer and impact. Through data analysis, action plans, work scrutinies, pupil and staff voice etc the school can gain an effective and indepth evaluation of the current provision and the opportunities that may be open to continue to improve the schools offer moving forward whilst also giving emphasis and importance to such a key area of school provision.

I would encourage all schools to adopt a culture of regularly reviewing the effectiveness of their pupil premium strategy, drawing on the expertise of a pupil premium reviewer. The review process should feed into a refreshed pupil premium strategy and this Guide includes a model framework that supports schools to set out the barriers to learning for their disadvantaged pupils, the most appropriate evidence-based interventions, and how they will measure the impact of their chosen interventions. Sir John Dunford