Pupil Premium

This statement details our school’s use of pupil premium funding to help improve the attainment of our disadvantaged pupils.

It outlines our pupil premium strategy, how we intend to spend the funding in this academic year and the outcomes for disadvantaged pupils last academic year.

School overview

Detail

Data

Number of pupils in school

1,024

Proportion (%) of pupil premium eligible pupils

19%

Academic year/years that our current pupil premium strategy plan covers (3 year plans are recommended – you must still publish an updated statement each academic year)

2021/22-2024/25

Date this statement was published

3rd December 2024

Date on which it will be reviewed

November 2025

Statement authorised by

Mr James Habberley Headteacher

Pupil premium lead

Mr Alex Bedford Senior Assistant Head Teacher

Governor / Trustee lead

Mrs Anna McCormack,
Chair of Governors

Funding overview

Detail

Amount

Pupil premium funding allocation this academic year

£ 189,330

Pupil premium (and recovery premium*) funding carried forward from previous years (enter £0 if not applicable)

£ 0

Total budget for this academic year

If your school is an academy in a trust that pools this funding, state the amount available to your school this academic year

£ 189,330

Part A: Pupil premium strategy plan

Statement of Intent

At St George, we pride ourselves on supporting the individual. Understanding our students’ needs is key to supporting them the best we can. As such, we use our academic and pastoral monitoring systems to identify groups and individuals in need and allocate our pupil premium funding accordingly to achieve their goals. Our ultimate aim is to ensure all our students are happy, independent and successful. This is summarised by our mission statement “We ASPIRE to be all that God has created us to be”

Our intention is that all pupils, irrespective of their background or the challenges they face, make good progress and achieve high attainment across the curriculum. High quality teaching is at the heart of our approach and has proven to have the most impact on closing the disadvantaged attainment gap. Our strategy for improving outcomes and providing more opportunities for disadvantaged pupils is integral to our whole school development plan alongside wider plans for targeted support through the national tutoring programme. To ensure they are effective we will:

  • Ensure disadvantaged pupils are challenged in the work that they’re set.
  • Act early to intervene at the point the need is identified.
  • Maintain our whole school approach in which all staff take responsibility for disadvantaged pupils’ outcomes and raise expectations of what they can achieve.

Challenges

This details the key challenges to achievement that we have identified among our disadvantaged pupils.

Challenge number

Detail of challenge

1

Raising outcomes of disadvantaged pupils compared to other pupils in school and nationally.

2

Improving low literacy & numeracy levels that prevent students from accessing the curriculum, specifically in years 7,8 & 9.

3

Ensuring students are prepared to go on and be succesful once they leave St George.

4

Improving low attendance affecting students’ ability to experience the high-quality teaching in lessons and benefitting from the pastoral support available on site.

Intended Outcomes

This explains the outcomes we are aiming for by the end of our current strategy plan, and how we will measure whether they have been achieved.

Intended outcome

Success criteria

Reduce the in-school attainment GAP, for DP compared with other pupils. Disadvantaged students to make progress in line with national other or better.

By the end of our current plan in 2024/25 our basics 9-4 outcomes for disadvantaged outcomes to be above national other

The in-school basics 9-4 gap <10%

To achieve a positive P8 score for DP students

Improve reading ages in order to access the more demanding 9-1 curriculum. Improve numeracy skills in order to access the maths curriculum.

Reading comprehension tests show that the GAP in reading age to actual age has reduced.

In school tracking data shows low ability students in maths making progress towards their end of year target for Maths.

Support students to go on to be successful at the next stage of their education or apprenticeship. Students access a wide variety of pastoral support focused on the individual.

Pupils staying in education or employment >95%. Students choose a variety of difference colleges and courses. Student attendance is >95% following pastoral support where and when its required.

To Improve the attendance of disadvantaged pupils.

Attendance of >95%

Activity in this academic year

This details how we intend to spend our pupil premium (and recovery premium) funding this academic year to address the challenges listed above.

Teaching (for example, CPD, recruitment and retention)

Budgeted cost: £ 47,070

Activity

Evidence that supports this approach

Challenge number(s) addressed

AHT Leadership Role

Dedicated member of SLT assigned to lead and manage pupil premium strategy. It is essential that a senior member of the leadership team has responsibility for our pupil premium strategy as they have the authority, experience, time and skills to be able to ensure there is an effective plan in place to support those students.

1, 2, 3, 4

Additional set in KS4 English & Maths

Additional sets allow targeted groups to be created and support student abilities. Reduced class sizes allow for more individual support from class teacher. Additional class also allows tiering in Maths to support individual student pathways. This approach is supported by evidence from the EEF Guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium   that states that targeted support to smaller groups can make a significant difference to pupil progress.

 

1, 2, 3

TLR for Literacy & Numeracy co-ordinators

Literacy & Numeracy strategies implemented across the college to support all students progress. Evidence of the positive impact a literacy and numeracy co-ordinators can have on our disadvantaged pupils is supported by the EEF Guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium/ With 47% of our cohort being EAL there is a clear need to focus on ensuring our students are able to read and communicate effectively in order to access the curriculum. The evidence suggests that pupils make significant progress when they receive targeted literacy and or numeracy intervention through a whole school literacy and numeracy strategy via tutor time or targeted within the curriculum. Our literacy and numeracy co-ordinators are in place to implement this.

1, 2, 3

Appointed an additional Maths & English Teacher to provide Literacy and Numeracy interventions in curriculum time.

Additional Maths & English teachers are timetabled to provide literacy and numeracy interventions in years 7&8 to key students within their curriculum time. The intention is this will improve students reading ages and support their confidence & progress in Maths. As above supporting evidence for this approach comes from the EEF Guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium      that states that targeted support to smaller groups can make a significant difference to pupil progress. By appointing an additional Maths and English teacher we are able to provide additional literacy and numeracy interventions writing curriculum time to small groups of students.

1, 4

Targeted academic support (for example, tutoring, one-to-one support, structured interventions)

Budgeted cost: £ 19,470

Activity

Evidence that supports this approach

Challenge number(s) addressed

Half term/

Easter schools

Targeted intervention for students identified for behind target in their learning. Saint George realises how important it is we ensure students are supported to catch up on their learning, topics they have missed or misconceptions they have. Providing opportunity to target support to students to address their misconceptions has proven to have a positive impact on student outcomes at Saint George. This is supported by the EEF Guidance for teachers/pupil premium

1, 3

Music lessons

Supporting students to undertake a broad and balanced curriculum tailored to the individual. Evidence from the EEF evidence/teaching-learning-toolkit/arts-participation suggests that participation in Arts based activities ensures the students pay an important part in developing the students wider skills set and their general interests and well-being at school. It is hoped this will improve confidence and student attendance.

1, 3

Home Language Tutor

Supporting students to undertake a broad and balanced curriculum tailored to the individual. With 47% of our cohort defined as EAL it is essential that students feel supported with their home language if they wish to take it as a GCSE but also to support students and their parent’s journey at Saint George. We believe that this improves students range of qualifications and allows that to better integrate into school ensuring any misconceptions are addressed.

1, 3

Educational resources

Providing educational resources to students to develop their independence and support their academic achievements. By supporting students with revision guides, text books, laptops this should to improve students learning. Laptops have been essential for students to be able to complete homework, coursework, college applications and communicate with teachers when required to. This is supported by the EEF as an effective strategy for advantaged students.

Guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium

 

1, 3

Educational trips

Provides enrichment opportunities to develop individual’s cultural capital and apply this to their studies where appropriate. Evidence from the EEF suggests that extracurricular activities and trips are an important part of education in its own right. These approaches increase engagement in learning, but also improves can have a positive impact on student’s wellbeing. Guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium

1, 3, 4

 

Wider strategies (for example, related to attendance, behaviour, wellbeing)

Budgeted cost: £ 122,790

Activity

Evidence that supports this approach

Challenge number(s) addressed

Inclusion manager

Supporting individual needs of students to engage in the full life of the school where possible. Ensuring an Inclusion manager is in place means there is a member of staff in place to manage our inclusion centre and ensure all its students feel supported and want to attend St George. Without a manager behaviour is affected negatively in mainstream lessons, and the student’s attendance at school drops because they don’t get the support they need. 

1, 3, 4

Inclusion team

Supporting individual needs of students to engage in the full life of the school where possible. Evidence from the EEF suggests that Social and emotional skills support effective learning and are linked to positive outcomes later in life. Therefore, an inclusion team are in place to support students when required.

 

1, 3, 4

AP Teacher

Provides a bespoke curriculum for individual students with the aim of returning to mainstream lessons as soon as appropriate for the individual. Evidence from our own individual pathway programme has shown it has a positive impact on reducing suspension for students who were not coping in mainstream lessons and increased attendance for vulnerable pupils who were refusing to come to school.

1, 3, 4

ELSA support

Supporting individual needs of students to engage in the full life of the school where possible. The number of students struggling with their mental health post COVID has increased significantly. Therefore, in order to cope with the demand for support Saint George has three trained ELSA’s in place to support our students.

1, 3, 4

Careers officer

Individual careers advice and guidance to support students making informed choices about their next steps after leaving St George. Saint George must have a Careers Advisor in place. Funds are used to ensure the Careers officer is able to support our students in making future careers choices but also developing a Careers programme within school that meets the Gatsby benchmarks. The % of students going onto education, apprenticeship or employment is above national.

3, 4

Mental Health Nurse

Supporting individual needs of students to engage in the full life of the school where possible. The number of students struggling with their mental health post COVID has increased significantly affecting student’s health, attendance and academic performance. Therefore, the EEF identify the importance of improving of looking after student’s wellbeing to support effective learning. This links to positive outcomes later in life.
Guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium

3, 4

Transport

Supporting students to attend school. Every child must come to school. Saint George is not a catchment school and therefore it is essential the school supports where possible transport costs so that students are able to get a school or public bus to school.

1, 4

Discretionary fund

Allocated to support individual needs as they arise. Every student has different needs and therefore it’s important that we have a fund available to support a range requests where they have a positive impact on the student.

3, 4

 

Total budgeted cost: £ 189,330

Part B: Review of the previous academic year

Outcomes for disadvantaged pupils

 

 

Pupils eligible for PP (your school)

*National Pupils not eligible for PP 2023

**(School Non-PP 2024)

Progress 8 score average 2022, 2023 & 2024

+0.04, +0.42, +0.79

+0.17 (+0.84)

Attainment 8 score average 2022, 2023 & 2024

48.4, 47.5, 55.3

50.2 (59.4)

Basics 9-4 2022, 2023 & 2024

74.5, 75, 83.3

73 (86.3)

Basics 9-5 2022, 2023 & 2024

51.0, 45.8, 66.7

52.1 (70.8)

Staying in education or employment (2020, 2021, 2022 leavers)

94%, 93%, TBC (Whole school)

National 94%

Local Authority 90%

Attendance 20/21, 21/22, 22/23 & 23/24

92.5%, 89.5%, 92.2%, 92.2%

***92.6%

 

* figures taken from 2023 Key Stage 4 Outcomes Nova Analysis report – Provisional

** figures taken from SISRA Analytics

*** figures taken from SCC 2022/23 Full Report

 

The table below details the outcomes of our disadvantaged pupils for the previous three years where national data has been available.

 

Pupils eligible for PP (your school)

Pupils not eligible for PP (national average 2019)

Progress 8 score 2017, 2018 & 2019

+0.28, +0.67, +0.35

+0.13

Attainment 8 score 2017, 2018 & 2019

41.6, 46.9, 50.0

50.1

Basics 9-4 2017, 2018 & 2019

60.0, 68.0, 70.0

71.7

Basics 9-5 2017, 2018 & 2019

25.0, 32.0, 41.7

49.5

 

 

EBACC Entry Data: The table below shows the % of disadvantaged pupils entered for EBACC and their attainment:

Year

% of all students entered for EBACC 

% DP students entered for EBACC

DP APS (Average Point Score)

2024-2025

43.6%

34.2%

TBC

2023-2024

38.3%

34.6%

4.83

2022-2023

34.3%

21.6%

4.09

2021-2022

45.9%

32.4%

4.06

 

Challenge number

Impact Review

1

Our disadvantaged students have significantly outperformed national other students for Progress 8, Basics at 9-4 & 9-5. The in-school GAP has also reduced considerably for Progress 8 from 0.9 to 0.5 to now being 0.04. This is an exceptional achievement and something we now need to work hard to maintain.

2

Our literacy programme has seen an increase in reading age in Year 7, 8 & 9 during. In 2022-23, disadvantaged pupils who were involved in the intervention groups made greater than expected progress in Year 7 by 4 months, in Year 8 by 10 months and in Year 9 by 3 months. In 2023-24, the intervention was disrupted by staff absence but disadvantaged pupils who were involved in the intervention groups made greater than expected progress in Year 7 by 1 month and in Year 8 by 3 months.

Our numeracy programme saw some improvement in student’s performance using Freckle maths. However, the programme has now been adapted to focus on greater teacher input with fewer students.

3

Students were supported on an individual basis with personalised advice, tailored to the individual and are attending a wide variety of courses at a number of different colleges. Help for attending interviews and taster days also supported students making the transition to college. This is evidenced from the initial college attendance data in Sept 24 where we have 5 students (2.5%) currently not in education or employment. This is an area we are continuing to work on.

4

The gap between national attendance and our disadvantaged students has reduced from 3% in 2021 to 0.4% in 2023 & 2024. Our target remains for all student’s attendance to be above 95%.

 

 

Externally provided programmes

Please include the names of any non-DfE programmes that you used your pupil premium (or recovery premium) to fund in the previous academic year.

Programme

Provider

Accelerated Reader

Renaissance

Freckle (Accelerated Maths)

Renaissance

 

Service pupil premium funding (optional)

For schools that receive this funding, you may wish to provide the following information: How our service pupil premium allocation was spent last academic year

The school received £2040 to support service pupil premium. This funding is allocated to provide additional pastoral support and enrichment opportunities and is included in the wider strategies budget (please see previous information)

The impact of that spending on service pupil premium eligible pupils

Service pupil students accessed the pastoral team to support their wellbeing on an individual basis. This had a positive impact on the student’s attendance, which allowed them to participate in the full curriculum and attend a variety of enrichment activities including subsidised peripatetic lessons and trips.