Pupil Premium

What is Pupil Premium?

The Pupil Premium (PP) is a vital funding initiative provided to schools in England. Its primary goal is to enhance the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils and close the achievement gap between them and their peers. By targeting this additional financial support where it is most needed, we aim to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background.The funding is available to the following groups of students:

• Students who are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM).
• Students that have been eligible for FSM in the last six years (FSM Ever 6).
• Students who are currently, or have ever been, looked after or in care (LAC).
•  Students from a Forces background.

The school receives quarterly funding for each of the groups of students in varying amounts, which must be used to support students or take away financial barriers that could be hindering their progress within school. The government expects the school to track each of the student’s progress and how the funding is being spent.

We will continue to use the Pupil Premium funding to support students to raise standards and attainment. The funding has been used in a number of different areas, including but not limited to:

• Teaching Staff- To employ additional teaching staff to reduce class sizes and improve attainment

• Coaching/Mentoring - To help students achieve their full potential, offering additional support to those students who need greater intervention.

• Pastoral Staff - To support pupils' attendance, self-esteem, and attitudes towards learning.

• Wider Curriculum Experience - To enhance the curriculum, ensure the children are able to participate and to give children the opportunity to experience new and challenging activities.

• Targeted support:To provide additional support in English and Maths for students who need extra help to improve their outcomes

•  Mental Health and Wellbeing Support - To provide additional support for students who need greater intervention, helping them achieve their full potential.

Free school meals

To apply for Free School Meals online please click here or alternatively you can pick up a paper application form from both site receptions.

For further information and to view the Pupil Premium letter to parents/carers click here.
To view the government guidance on Pupil Premium, click here.

If your child does not have Free School Meals, but may be eligible because of your family's income level, please do contact us (in confidence) to register them. Even if you do not wish your child to have the meals, this would mean the school could still claim Pupil Premium funding that may be used to help your child. 

Educational Trips and visits

We have a vast array of wonderful trips and opportunities open to students at The Cherwell School and as a family in receipt of Pupil Premium funding you are entitled to financial support with educational trips and visits. We work hard to make sure that our trips are affordable and as much as possible try to spread out payments. If your child is eligible for Free School Meals and Pupil Premium funding, you will receive 25% off for curriculum focused trips only. If you have any questions or queries about trip funding do contact the Educational Visits Coordinator Rosaria DiCeglie on rdiceglie@cherwellschool.org

Physical Education (PE) Kit 

Physical activity is vital for student health and well-being, making PE an essential part of the curriculum. To keep costs manageable for families, we have streamlined our requirements: students only need a Cherwell PE top and a zip top.

To help reduce costs and support sustainability, we offer:

• Pre-Loved PE Kit Service: Quality pre-owned kit available at a reduced cost.

• Football Boot Bank: Temporary access to football boots for students who need them.

• Financial Support: Families eligible for Free School Meals or Pupil Premium funding receive a 25% discount on PE tops. Please submit a request using the form below (note: discounts do not apply to tracksuit bottoms or leggings).

Please note: Financial support requests are processed once per term. If you need a kit urgently, we recommend utilizing our Pre-Loved kit service.

Digital Learning & Chromebook Support Homework at Cherwell plays a key role in our Knowing and Remembering More (KARM) strategy, helping students deepen their understanding, revise key concepts, and practice skills taught in class. Homework is set via Google Classroom, with student planners helping to keep tasks organized.

Having a dedicated home device—rather than relying on a mobile phone—makes a significant difference, particularly for online platforms like SPARX and Educake. To help every student access a suitable device, we offer several support options. Please refer to our device brochure for full details.