Pupil Premium Spending

The Government believes that the Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address the current underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most.
The Pupil Premium was introduced in April 2011 and is allocated to schools to work with pupils who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years (known as ‘Ever 6 FSM’). Schools also receive funding for children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months and children of service personnel.

Our Statement of Intent

Our aim at Cowley Academy is that all students achieve their potential. To this end we employ a range of strategies and interventions aimed at removing barriers which can be caused by either personal circumstance or gaps in knowledge. Our goal is that no child is left behind either socially or academically because of disadvantage.

Our Pupil Premium Strategy is based upon the core principles of the school – to aspire, challenge and achieve. We seek to raise the lifelong aspirations of disadvantaged students, remove barriers to learning and achieve excellent outcomes.

It is a plan which focuses on the whole child, with a range of strategies to improve wellbeing, with high levels of social, emotional and mental health support. It also recognises the importance of attendance, and behaviour in ensuring progress for our disadvantaged students. We are committed to creating opportunities beyond the classroom curriculum, to exposing students to the best in terms of cultural capital and ensuring that disadvantage is not a barrier in accessing these.

Through rigorous tracking, careful planning and targeted support we believe that disadvantaged students at Cowley Academy can fulfil their academic potential, have high aspirations and become well rounded members of society.

The pupil premium (PP) currently stands at £985 per child per year and £310 for children of parents in armed services. At Cowley Academy we focus the spending plan on 3 key areas:

• Academic – through carefully planned and monitored support and intervention, linked to thorough tracking of attainment and achievement we aim to remove barriers to learning and ensure that students achieve successful outcomes.
• Enrichment & Engagement – Ensuring that our students receive outstanding Careers support, independent advice and guidance. Supporting good attendance and enabling students to participate fully in the wider curriculum life of the school.
• Wellbeing – Students benefit from outstanding pastoral support, dedicated safeguarding support, and a rewards programme focussed on ensuring behaviour remains excellent.