Funding

The Pupil Premium was introduced by the Coalition Government in January 2011 to improve educational outcomes for our most disadvantaged students. The government gives additional funds for each student receiving Free School Meals (FSM), registered Looked After Children (LAC) and any child who has been in receipt of Free School Meals in the last six years (known as Ever6 FSM). In addition to these groups, a lesser sum is given for children with parents in the Armed Forces.

At John Mason School we are committed to ensuring Pupil Premium students have the same high aspirations and opportunities to enable them to reach their potential. We have a dedicated member of staff, Mr Thompson, who, as the Assistant Headteacher (Inclusion), is working with all members of school to ensure these students achieve excellent outcome. We will continue to use the Pupil Premium funding to support our students to raise standards of attainment and progress, improve attendance and have positive attitudes to learning. We base our strategies for the use of this funding on the latest educational research findings from organisations such as The Sutton Trust, The Educational Endowment Trust and other excellent bodies of research and innovation.

The funding has been used in a number of different areas, including but not limited to:

• Staffing for tuition, intervention and mentoring, supporting students with 1:1 tuition in subjects and intervention programmes, such as literacy and numeracy, to support rapid progress.
   
• Staffing within the pastoral team including Learning Support and the JMS Lodge, providing additional support with student attendance, self-esteem, attitude to learning as well as enhancing curriculum support materials (e.g. AQA Unit Award Scheme) and Project Based Learning.
   
• A bursary for students empowering them to buy resources to support their own learning, such as PE kit / equipment, calculators, dictionaries, and revision materials.
   
• Trips' subsidy allowing students to access the full range of school trips, including the Welsh Farm Year 8 residential and Year 11 Paintball Trip.
   
• Breakfast Club providing a free breakfast for disadvantaged children.
   
• Summer School and transition work supporting a successful Year 6 induction with particular focus on literacy.
   
• Chromehome scheme providing access to IT and access to the internet.

In term 1, for each new student, a review takes place in order to assess their needs and plan a personalised provision to support their school experience.

If your son/daughter does not have Free School Meals, but may be eligible because of your family’s income level, please do contact us (in confidence) to register. Even if you do not wish him/her to have the meals, this would mean the school could still claim Pupil Premium funding that may be used to help your child.

To register your son/daughter for Free School Meals, please contact Student Services in the school office on inclusionfsm@johnmason.oxon.sch.uk

For more details about Pupil Premium please visit: http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport