Pupil Premium is additional government funding provided to state-funded schools in England to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. It is intended to help schools accelerate disadvantaged pupils’ progress, raise attainment and reduce the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.

From the start of the 2026–27 academic year, changes to Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility mean that all children from households receiving Universal Credit are entitled to a free school meal, provided their family applies. As part of these changes, benefits-based Free School Meals are now divided into two categories: Targeted FSM and Expanded FSM.

Pupils eligible for Targeted FSM meet the criteria used before the expansion of Free School Meals. These pupils receive a free school meal and may also qualify for other educational entitlements and funding, including Pupil Premium. Pupils eligible for Expanded FSM are from households receiving Universal Credit but do not meet the Targeted FSM criteria. They are entitled to a free school meal, but this eligibility does not attract Pupil Premium funding and does not count towards Ever 6 FSM.

Pupil Premium funding therefore continues to support eligible disadvantaged pupils, including those who qualify through the relevant FSM criteria and children who are, or have previously been, looked after.

Importantly, Pupil Premium is not a personal budget for an individual child. Schools can use the funding strategically to address the needs of disadvantaged pupils and may also use it to support other pupils with identified needs or fund whole-class approaches where these will benefit disadvantaged pupils.

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, we use our Pupil Premium funding carefully to identify and remove barriers to learning, strengthen high-quality teaching and provide targeted academic and wider support so that all pupils have the opportunity to thrive and achieve their potential.

If you would like more information on eligibility and how to apply, please click below: