Activity | Evidence that supports this approach | Challenge number(s) addressed |
Promoting the Invest IN courses for PP students where there is a need | Previous students have been on these courses and fed back that they valued the opportunities and that they helped to raise awareness of ambitious careers. | 3 |
Provision of an independent counsellor which Pupil Premium students have priority access to, and an EBSA pathway programme which PP students would get priority for if needed. | We know from previous students who were PP (as well as others) that mental health can definitely be a barrier to learning. There is a current national focus on this, and our counsellor Sally Grey can confirm its benefit. The EEF mentions that social and emotional development is on average the equivalent to ‘four months additional progress in academic outcomes’ over the course of one year. | 2, 6 |
Support uniform costs, printing costs and lockers. | At a recent PP conference that MC attended, several speakers mentioned the importance of PP students feeling disengaged if they stood out, and this support helps resilience and a positive attitude to School. | 2 |
Support all curriculum trips. | As a staff, we strongly support curriculum trips as valuable learning activities for all pupils- this is why they are organised. | 1, 5 |
Support Bronze Duke of Edinburgh. | At a recent PP conference before the pandemic, there were many speakers who emphasised the importance of pupil engagement and attainment benefiting from extra-curricular activity. | 5 |
Encourage higher participation in 11+ tests via more website information and a planned orientation session in 2021/22, followed by a change in our Admissions Policy to prioritise PP students for 2024 entry. | It is self-evident that we cannot provide support for the most able in this selective context if they don’t arrive in the first place, which is why we see this as a key focus. | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
Supporting music lessons for all KS4 musicians who do GCSE music. | At a recent PP conference before the pandemic, there were many speakers who emphasised the importance of pupil engagement and attainment benefiting from extra-curricular activity. This also ties in with our belief that a broad curriculum with an emphasis on creative subjects helps all learners to make good progress. Our exam results also support this belief. | 5 |
Support for outward bounds trip for all Year 7 eligible students. | At a recent PP conference before the pandemic, there were many speakers who emphasised the importance of pupil engagement and attainment benefiting from extra-curricular activity. The EEF says that the evidence base is weak, but that these kind of outdoor experiences do ‘show positive impacts’. | 2, 5 |
Support Year 9 outward bounds course. | At a recent PP conference before the pandemic, there were many speakers who emphasised the importance of pupil engagement and attainment benefiting from extra-curricular activity. The EEF says that the evidence base is weak, but that these kind of outdoor experiences do ‘show positive impacts’. | 2, 5 |
Prioritise careers adviser. | As we know from many programmes, such as Compass, careers education is beneficial to all learners in helping them prepare for their futures. | 3 |
Attendance monitoring and intervention to support attendance problems. | It is self-evident that learning must be disrupted by low attendance, and the national picture in the wake of the pandemic emphasises the importance of this- the Teaching Unions, for instance, have all outlined this. We therefore see it as a key focus for all students. The EEF mentions the importance of ‘attendance data and levels of absence’ in student progress. | 6 |
Support for costumes in the School Play and encouragement for PP students to get involved in School drama. | At a recent PP conference before the pandemic, there were many speakers who emphasised the importance of pupil engagement and attainment benefiting from extra-curricular activity. | 5 |
Buy in to external presentations for PSHEE to improve confidence, resilience and preparation for the wider world. | The importance of creating resilient and confident learners is underlined by the importance of PSHEE in the National Curriculum, and by the emphasis on Personal Development in the new Inspection Framework. The EEF mentions that social and emotional development is on average the equivalent to ‘four months additional progress in academic outcomes’ over the course of one year. | 2 |
Transition package to help smooth entry to Year 7 | Our own feedback from all students and parents in Year 7 shows how much they value the transition arrangements and support as they enter the School. | 1, 2, 4 |
Money to support extra-curricular recreation opportunities at breaks and lunchtime and encouragement for students to use these. | At a recent PP conference before the pandemic, there were many speakers who emphasised the importance of pupil engagement and attainment benefiting from extra-curricular activity. The EEF says that the evidence base is weak, but that these kind of outdoor experiences do ‘show positive impacts’. | 2,5 |
Monitor extra-curricular participation and encourage students to engage with extra-curricular provision frequently. | At a recent PP conference before the pandemic, there were many speakers who emphasised the importance of pupil engagement and attainment benefiting from extra-curricular activity. The EEF says that the evidence base is weak, but that these kind of outdoor experiences do ‘show positive impacts’. | 2,5 |