Pupil Premium at St Mary’s Catholic Academy

At St Mary’s Catholic Academy, we are committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to achieve their full potential. The Pupil Premium is additional funding provided by the government to support disadvantaged pupils. We use this funding to remove barriers to learning and provide targeted support so that all pupils can thrive.

Our Vision

We believe every child has limitless potential. Our aim is to ensure disadvantaged pupils:

• Receive high-quality teaching every day.
• Have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.
• Benefit from excellent pastoral care and a supportive learning environment.
• Take part in enrichment activities that build confidence and cultural capital.

How We Use Pupil Premium Funding

For the academic year 2025–2026, our funding is £70,804. This is invested in:

• Outstanding Teaching: Continuous professional development for teachers, mentoring and coaching, and curriculum improvements.
• Targeted Support: Small group tuition, phonics interventions, and language development programmes.
• Technology for Learning: Using digital tools to enhance teaching and support pupils with SEND.
• Wellbeing and Attendance: Breakfast and after-school clubs, social and emotional learning strategies, family support and a Younger Minds counsellor, providing 1:1 sessions.
• Enrichment Opportunities: Trips, clubs, music lessons, cultural opportunities and partnership working with Children’s University provide cultural capital and broaden personal experiences.

Our Goals

By 2027, we aim for:

• Disadvantaged pupils to achieve at least in line with national expectations.
• Strong progress in reading, writing, and maths.
• Improved language development in early years.
• Sustained high attendance and excellent wellbeing.
• Access to a wide range of enrichment activities.

Impact So Far

• KS2 results show disadvantaged pupils achieving above national averages.
• Phonics outcomes are strong, with 90% meeting expected standards.
• Attendance for disadvantaged pupils is outstanding at 96.6%, well above national figures.

Termly monitoring of FSM children ensures that any areas of concern are identified quickly and strategies put into place to address any areas of concern. We will continue to monitor progress and share updates with parents. If you would like more information or support, please contact Mrs. Statham, Pupil Premium Lead or the school office.

At St Mary’s Catholic Academy, we understand that not all pupils who are socially disadvantaged are registered or qualify for free school meals and therefore could be disadvantaged by stringent criteria for the distribution of the Pupil Premium Grant. At St Mary’s Catholic Academy, we reserve the right to allocate the Pupil Premium funding to support any pupil or groups of children the school has identified as being socially disadvantaged.

At St Mary’s Catholic Academy, Pupil Premium funding will be allocated following a thorough needs analysis which will identify priority children.

 

Reporting Effectiveness of Pupil Premium Grant

At St Mary’s Catholic Academy, the Headteacher / Pupil Premium Lead will produce a report each term to the appropriate academy committee on the use and effectiveness of the PPG.

The report will include the following information;

• A detailed analysis of the progress made by children and identified groups in terms of narrowing the achievement gap (Pupil Premium against non-Pupil Premium students).
• Provision for identified children and groups across the school.
• An analysis and evaluation of the cost effectiveness of the allocated PPG in terms of the progress made by the students receiving a particular provision.
• The Academy Committee and its committees will share responsibility with the Senior Leadership Team for evaluating and improving the interventions used to close the achievement gap through Pupil Premium funding.

 

Members of the Academy Committee will ensure that a pupil premium strategy is published on how the Pupil Premium funding has been used to address the issue of ‘closing the gap’, for socially disadvantaged students, and what the impact has been. Publication will include posting the statement on the school website.

Pupil premium: overview - GOV.UK