Pupil Premium Strategy

At Culgaith CE School, we believe that only by having the highest expectations of all learners can the highest possible standards be achieved. Some pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds require additional support; therefore, we will use all the available resources to help them reach their full potential.

The Pupil Premium was introduced in April 2011. It was allocated to children from low-income families who were known to be eligible for free school meals, and children who had been looked after continuously for more than six months. Eligibility for the Pupil Premium for 2012–13 was extended to pupils who have been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years (known as the Ever6 Free School Meals measure). Schools also receive funding for children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months, and a smaller amount for the children of service personnel.

Schools are free to spend the Pupil Premium as they see fit. However, we are accountable for how we use the additional funding to support pupils from low-income families and the other target groups. New measures have been included in the performance tables that show the achievement of pupils who attract the Pupil Premium.

The focus on expenditure for the Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) was related to each individual child’s performance and needs in order to diminish the difference. As with all schools since March 2020 the PPG took a much wider approach. Support was not simply directed to pupil’s academic intervention, it included a re-shift in the delivery of our teaching priorities, targeted support and wider provisions that supported pupils mental and social well-being. This was particularly so during our school’s partial closure.

As a small school, we have a very small number of children who receive Pupil Premium Grant. In order to remain confidential, we do not publish our figures or numbers of children who receive the grand. We have individual plans, strategy, targets and expenditure plan for any children who receive the grant, which is available (if appropriate) on request.

 The funding contributes to the children’s learning in the following ways:

• High quality additional teaching and support staff for intervention groups
• Additional experts working with individuals and small groups
• Staff training to ensure intervention is as effective as possible
• Tracking the progress of pupils frequently, comparing results and informing their target setting and next steps.
• Resources to support reading, writing and mathematics.

Throughout the academic year we will use the money:

• To ensure that all children have access to the same opportunities within School through class outings, instrumental lessons, residential trips and after school clubs.
• To provide short term intervention programmes for those underachieving and those with SEND.
• Additional support staff for 1:1 and small intervention groups.

Sports Premium Funding

The Sports Premium funding at Culgaith is ring-fenced and must be used to develop PE and Sports provision for the benefit of children aged 5-11 years old so that they develop a healthy lifestyle now and the future. It is used to make additional and sustainable enhancements to our PE provision.

We use it to develop and add to the PE and school sport activities that we already offer – this year we have already used it to add gymnastics, football coaching, swimming and dance as well as much more.

We use it to make sustainable improvements that will benefit future children; buying equipment, and providing existing staff with training.

We measure the impact of this in a variety of different ways. We endeavour to provide the children with a variety of sport activities that they may not have chance to carry out at home too.

Children also take part in a variety of competitive sports arranged through the Eden Valley Sports Partnership such as the swimming gala, cross-country and netball.

Our Sports Coordinator and Head Teacher then reports this spending and impact to the Governing Board. 

You can see Sports funding spend at