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Pupil Premium

St Catherine's receives funding from the Government's Pupil Premium initiative.  The funding is calculated based on the number of pupils entitled to Free School Meals over the previous 6 years.  There is also an element that relates to the number of children who have been adopted from the LA care.

Pupil Premium funding is used to support the learning of these pupils in a number of ways and is designed to ensure that our pupils achieve the very best that they can and make similar progress to those who are not entitled to additional funding.  The School has a policy on how the funding will be used.

Pupil Premium Strategy 2023-2024

St Catherine's Pupil Premium Policy

Eligibility for Free School Meals

The amount of Pupil Premium Grant received by the school relates directly to the number of pupils registered as eligible for Free School Meals.  The grant is then used to support these pupils, either directly or indirectly, in a number of different ways as per our Policy Statement. Currently the amount of grant per pupil registered for Free School Meals is £1,320.  The school also receives £2,300 for any pupil who is classed as "Looked-after children (LAC) as defined in the Children Act 1989 as one who is in the care of, or provided with accommodation by, an English local authority" or who has "ceased to be looked after by a local authority in England and Wales because of adoption, a special guardianship order, a child arrangements order or a residence order".

In order to check a pupils eligibility for Free School Meals, we need information about both parents and pupils including evidence that parents are on low income/in receipt of specified income related state benefits. Parents are asked to complete a form providing this information:

Registration form for Free School Meals

Family income and Benefit details

Eligilbility based on low income is decided based on the following criteria:

Family income below £16,190 per year and/or parents are not in receipt of Working Tax Credit

In receipt of one of the following state benefits:

  • Income support 
  • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Support from National Asylum Support Service (NASS) under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit only, provided your annual household income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) does not exceed £16,190. 
  • Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for WTC)
  • Universal Credit (with no element of Working Tax Credit)

Anyone entitled to Working Tax Credit is not entitled to free meals regardless of income.

Although pupils in KS1 are entitled to Universal Free School Meals, we do ask parents who meet the criteria above to register to enable the school to receive the grant for their child.

If you have any questions about Pupil Premium provision, please speak to our Pupil Premium Champion, Miss Cooper.

If you are unclear about your eligibility regarding the funding, please speak to our Business Manager, Mrs Ward.