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  • Pupil Premium & Free School Meals

    The Pupil Premium is additional funding for publicly funded schools in England. It is designed to help disadvantaged pupils of all abilities perform better and close the gap between them and their peers.

    What we receive: Schools receive an amount of funding per pupil, for pupils who fall into certain categories. This includes those who have been registered as eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years and those who are or have been in Local Authority care.

    What the funding is for: Schools can spend the pupil premium as they see fit – it is not a personal budget for each eligible child. However, they must use it to help raise the attainment of eligible pupils and to close the attainment gap between these pupils and their peers at all levels of attainment.

    How we spend the funding: As a school, we are accountable for how we will use this additional funding. Schools are required to publish online information regarding how they have used the premium and the impact it has made.

    Our approach for many years has mirrored that recommended by the Education Endowment Fund (EEF) in that it promotes:

    •  Quality first teaching strategies and best practice
    •  Additional time and support to allow all children to achieve and succeed
    •  Wider strategies to ensure non-academic factors are promoted to allow all children to participate, achieve and enjoy their education and all that the school can offer

    https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/pupil-premium-guide/

    Some examples of uses of this funding we have implemented are:

    • Provided extensive and ongoing staff training on the best approaches to raise standards and improve progress;
    • Provided individual and group support (academic support, learning support, social or emotional support);
    • Funded additional academic support, including staff-led tuition, for children eligible for the pupil premium;
    • Removed or reduced financial barriers enabling them to fully participate in school life and access wider experiences through funding or heavily subsidising school trips, uniforms, clubs, books,  instruments, technology for home learning and other resources;
    • Release class teachers to complete 1:1 pupil mentoring once per half term to develop and support pupils with their individual targets.

    You can download our pupil premium reports below:

    Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2025-26

    Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2024-25

    Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2023-24

    Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2022-23

    Pupil Premium Strategy Statement 2021-22

    Free School Meals

    From September 2026, Free School Meals eligibility is changing nationally.

    Some children will qualify for Targeted Free School Meals. This means they receive free school meals and may also attract additional school funding, known as Pupil Premium, which helps us provide extra support and opportunities.

    Some children will qualify for Expanded Free School Meals. This means they receive free school meals, but this does not automatically attract Pupil Premium funding.

    Families receiving Universal Credit may be eligible, but the type of eligibility depends on household earnings and other criteria. For further information, please see the Bucks Council webpage: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools-index/free-school-meals/

    All new families should make sure they have completed a Free School Meals application for each child at TGMS, even if they previously applied at another school. If your child has a sibling who has received Free School Meals, you should still make sure this child has their own claim recorded.

    If your child has previously received Free School Meals at another school, please tell the School Office so that we can check whether we need any further information.

    Eligibility will be checked annually. This does not necessarily mean every family will need to complete a new form each year, but we may contact you if we need updated information to complete the check.

    Please contact the School Office if you are unsure, need help completing the application, or have no recourse to public funds.