Recent reports raise concerns that the Pupil Premium Grant (PPG), intended to support disadvantaged pupils, is increasingly being used to cover school budget shortfalls. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) highlights the Department for Education's (DfE) limited oversight, potentially leaving vulnerable students without the targeted support they need.
The Reality of School Funding Pressures
Schools face severe financial strain due to rising energy costs, staffing pressures, recruitment challenges, and a woefully underfunded SEND system. As a result, the proportion of senior leaders using Pupil Premium to fill financial gaps has doubled—from 23% in 2019 to 47% in 2024, according to the Sutton Trust.
Schools are striving to maintain stable, high-quality learning environments amid this funding crisis. With other essential services for vulnerable children underfunded, schools often step in, and often at the expense of targeted Pupil Premium provision.
A System Designed for Flexibility, But Lacking Accountability
Since its introduction in 2011, Pupil Premium has allowed schools autonomy in identifying strategies supporting their disadvantaged students. However, accountability mechanisms have not kept pace with financial realities. The PAC report found that one in five schools had not published required reports on Pupil Premium spending. Despite some progress, the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers remains wide.
The Bigger Picture: Education Funding Needs a Reset
The Pupil Premium debate reflects a deeper issue: education funding is failing to meet demand. While core funding for disadvantage-related interventions has risen by 10% in real terms since 2018-19, Pupil Premium rates have fallen by 3% over the same period. Meanwhile, early intervention remains underfunded—Early Years Pupil Premium is just £588, compared to £1,480 for primary school children.
What Needs to Happen Next?
Greater Transparency: The DfE must improve oversight without overburdening schools, ensuring Pupil Premium is used effectively.
Sustainable School Funding: Schools should not need to rely on Pupil Premium to cover core expenses. Adequate funding is essential to ensure it supports disadvantaged pupils as intended.
A Holistic Approach: Narrowing the attainment gap requires a long term, sustainable strategy to irradicate poverty and promote social mobility.
Final Thoughts
Are schools using Pupil Premium to prop up budgets? Likely. But is it due to a disregard for disadvantaged pupils? Absolutely not. Schools are doing their best under immense financial pressure. The real issue is not flexible Pupil Premium use but why schools are forced to rely on it for survival. If we are serious about improving life chances for disadvantaged children, scrutiny of Pupil Premium spending isn’t enough—we need a real conversation about sustainable investment in education. What do you think? Should the government rethink its approach to school funding? Let’s discuss.
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