The EEF Guide to the Pupil Premium
Published
What is the Pupil Premium, and why does it matter?
The Pupil Premium has one central aim: to raise the educational outcomes of disadvantaged pupils. In doing this, it also supports our mission to close the wide and persistent gap in achievement between these children and their more affluent peers.
These gaps have a profound impact on education and employment outcomes – with higher achievement also tied to better health and well-being throughout our lives beyond education.
2.3m
The number of pupils attracting funding in the 2026–27 financial year.
£1,550
The amount of funding available to schools per eligible primary-aged pupil.
£1,100
The amount of funding available to schools per eligible secondary-aged pupil.
19 months
The gap in attainment between disadvantaged pupils and their more affluent peers by the end of secondary school.
An effective Pupil Premium strategy allows schools to intervene early and prevent these attainment gaps from growing. It is one of the most powerful tools we have for supporting education equity.
What is the Pupil Premium?
The Pupil Premium is additional government funding provided to publicly funded primary and secondary schools in England to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. This year, the total value of Pupil Premium is over £3 billion.
Why does it matter?
A wide, persistent gap in achievement separates disadvantaged pupils from their better off peers.
The attainment gap at the end of the reception year is 4.7 months, and that gap doubles by end of primary and doubles again by end of secondary. A key focus of your Pupil Premium strategy should be to intervene early to prevent gaps from growing.
Education impacts more than just jobs. Higher achievement is also tied to better health and well-being throughout our lives beyond education.
What is a school Pupil Premium strategy?
Every school is required to develop a Pupil Premium strategy to set out how they are spending their funding to support the attainment of disadvantaged pupils. We recommend a long-term, three-year approach to Pupil Premium planning, but schools still must review and publish an updated strategy statement every academic year before 31 December.
Our five-step guide to Pupil Premium will support you to develop and refine your strategy, ensuring it is informed by the evidence on effective practice, and that it is an ongoing process not a one-off event. This offers your leadership team opportunities to check approaches are working as you intended and to change course when needed.
In this video, Sonia Thompson explores how she unites staff and governors around pupil premium in her school.
Video length: 02:42