Pupil Premium and ‘what works’

1. Alan Dyson Centre for Equity in Education, University of Manchester d.a.dyson@manchester.ac.uk Pupil Premium and ‘what works’

2. The Pupil Premium • “Additional funding” for “disadvantaged pupils” • FSM, Ever6, LAC (6+months), service children. • “Aimed at tackling “underlying inequalities between children eligible for free school meals (FSM) and their peers” • “School leaders should decide” • Accountability through: • Performance tables • Ofsted • Reports for parents • £488 per pupil in 2011-12; £623 in 2012-13; £1300 (primary), £935 (secondary) in 2014-15 • Coincided with attempts to move to a national funding formula

3. The evaluation National survey of schools Case studies of 34 schools Analysis of budgets of a sample of schools

4. The findings PP as ‘new money’ Existing provision for disadvantage Monitoring systems Rationales for provision Schools’ concerns Definitions of disadvantage Heads, governors & parents

5. Key issues • Who counts as ‘disadvantaged’? • Direct attacks on low attainment – or holistic approaches to ‘barriers to learning’? • Stand-alone, ‘evidence-based’ interventions – or contextualised whole-school approaches • Individual school approaches – or collective approaches? • School-led decisions – or central guidance?

6. Two models • Focused: • Targeted at categories • Focused on attainment • Uses ‘proven’ interventions • Schools act alone • High chance of short-term impact • Doubts about longer-term transformation

7. Two models • Systemic: • Responds to ‘need’ • Focused on multiple outcomes • Uses context-driven approaches • Schools act with partners • Lower chance of short-term impact • Higher chance of longer-term transformation

8. The best bet… • Systemic approach • But including a focus on attainment • Indicators of disadvantage as a guide – but not a straitjacket • Detailed monitoring of individual pupils – and of the effects of interventions • Properly thought-through collaborative efforts to tackle the causes • & consequences of poverty

9. http://www.education.manchester.ac.uk/ research/centres/cee/