Pupil Premium

What is the Pupil Premium Grant?

The Pupil Premium Grant is additional funding given to schools in order for them to support their disadvantaged pupils and close the attainment gap between them and their peers.

Schools receive funding for pupils who have been in receipt of Free School Meals at any time in the last 6 years, pupils who are in the care of the Local Authority (CLAC), pupils who have been adopted from Care and pupils from Services families.

Our Pupil Premium Statement is produced each year and provides an overview of how we plan to spend this funding, why we have chosen to spend it this way and how the strategies will be implemented and monitored.

At the end of the year we produce a review of our expenditure detailing the impact of the strategy and the outcomes achieved by pupils eligible for the Pupil Premium Grant in Statutory assessments -Early Years Foundation Stage Profile, Year 1 and 2 Phonics Screening, End of Key Stage 1 and End of Key Stage 2.

Free School Meals - criteria to qualify

Many families in Sandwell could get free school meals but don't claim for them.

Your child may be entitled to free school meals if:

• your annual income is less than £16,190; and
• you claim Child Tax Credit (*Not Including Working Tax Credit) only; and
• your child is attending a Sandwell School (if your child(ren) doesn't attend a Sandwell School, you will need to apply to the Local Authority which your child's or children's school is in

*Please note you will not qualify for free school meals if you receive any amount of Working Tax Credit. Before applying please check your latest Tax Credit Awards Notice if you are unsure.

Your child may also qualify for free school meals if you receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Universal Credit - To qualify if you are in receipt of Universal Credit, your net earned income (after taxes and deductions ‘take home pay’) must be below £616 per month under the Universal Credit allowance you receive. This will be confirmed on your latest online Universal Credit statement when you received it. If your net earned income shows above the £616 figure you don’t qualify.
• Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
• Guaranteed Pension Credit (including Child Tax Credit)
• Income-based Job seekers Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Parents with No Recourse to Public Funds 'NRTPF' - For parents with no recourse to public funds, you will need to apply directly at your child's school and must meet the relevant Government set eligibility groups. These can be found on the following link; NRTPF - Eligibility Criteria

Please note - If your child is eligible or becomes eligible for free school meals at any time before the end of the 2025/26 academic year in July 2026, they will remain eligible until this date or beyond dependent on what school phase (see below) they are in. You will not need to apply for Free School Meals again if you are already eligible at a Sandwell School.

School phases

Primary - The primary phase is defined as the period Reception to Year 6. It includes both Infants and Juniors.

Secondary - The secondary phase is defined as the period from Year 7 to Year 11.

Important government update on free school meals guidance for the 2026/27 academic year

From the start of the 2026/27 school year, the Department for Education will introduce new eligibility criteria meaning that all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit will be entitled to receive a free meal. It is our intention to end transitional protections alongside this change in threshold, with eligibility for all pupils reverting to whether they meet the eligibility criteria regardless of whether they were previously protected. We will issue further guidance ahead of September 2026.