Pupil Premium
Pupils experience different environments and challenges, and learn about topics related to the curriculum- Ofsted 2023
Waingels is committed to being an exceptional school for all of its students. We aim to ensure that students who are eligible for Pupil Premium funding are given the opportunity to succeed in the pursuit of academic achievement and personal development. Thus, ensuring that the funding is spent effectively and that staff and governors make decisions that aim to narrow the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and those that are not disadvantaged.
Eligibility for pupil premium funding
The following groups are eligible for pupil premium:
- Pupils who are recorded as eligible for free school meals, or have been recorded as eligible in the past 6 years, including eligible children of families who have no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
- Children looked after by local authorities, referred to as looked-after children
- Children previously looked after by a local authority or other state care, referred to as previously looked-after children
We ensue that the pupil premium funding is spent effectively and that staff and governors make decisions that aim to narrow the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and those that are not disadvantaged.
Pupil premium funding is spent on the following:
- Resources for students to remove barriers to learning
- School counselling services
- Special curriculum
- Homework club
- Books, Curriculum Resources, KS4 Revision Guides, mathematics sets
- School trips and enrichment activities *a maximum contribution of £100 for curriculum enhancing trips.
If you are entitled to the government pupil premium funding you can apply for extra financial support throughout the year. As different expenditures arise, then please contact pupilsupport@waingels.wokingham.sch.uk to apply. All enquiries will be dealt with discretion and ensuring that the funds are allocated fairly.
Funding is allocated to those who are eligible for it based on priority of need, each case is dealt with on an individual basis and the Headteacher has the final decision on how the funds are allocated.
Who Qualifies for Pupil Premium Support
The Pupil Premium is additional finance given to publicly funded schools in England. It is targeted specifically to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and diminish the difference between them and their peers.
Pupil premium funding is paid to schools according to the number of pupils who have:
- Been registered as eligible for free school meals at any point in the last 6 years
- A parent in the Armed Forces
- Been looked after for one day or more, are adopted, leave care under a special guardianship order or a residence order
Free School Meal Eligibility & Pupil Premium (for 2025-2026)
Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
In addition, the following pupils will be protected against losing their free school meals:
- Since 1 April 2018, all existing free school meals claimants have continued to receive free school meals whilst Universal Credit is rolled out. This applies regardless of any change in household circumstances, including if their earnings rise above the threshold during that time. Protections will remain in place until the end of the 2025/26 school year.
- From the start of the 2026/27 school year, the Department for Education will extend entitlement to free school meals to include all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit. It is our intention to end transitional protections alongside this change in threshold, with eligibility for all pupils reverting to whether they meet the eligibility criteria, regardless of whether they were previously protected. We will issue further guidance ahead of September 2026. A pupil is only eligible to receive a free school meal when a claim for the meal has been made on their behalf and their eligibility, or protected status, has been verified by the school where they are enrolled or by the local authority.
| Disadvantage Pupils | Pupil Premium Per Pupil |
| Pupils in Years 7 to 11 which receive Free School Meals or have been eligible for FSM in the past 6 years | £1,075 |
| Children who are looked after by the local authority *Funding for looked-after children will be paid to the local authority and should be managed by the virtual school head in consultation with the child’s school. | £2,630 |
| Pupils previously looked after by a local authority or other state care *Funding for previously looked-after children will be paid to the local authority and should be managed by the virtual school head in consultation with the child’s school. | £2,630 |
| Service Children | Service Premium Per Pupil |
| Pupils in year groups reception to year 11 recorded as Ever 6 service child or in receipt of a child pension from the Ministry of Defence | £335 |
The Government believes that the Pupil Premium, which is additional to main school funding, is the best way to address underlying inequalities between these children (as specified above) and their peers, by ensuring that funding to tackle disadvantage reaches the pupils who need it most.
At Waingels we have used the additional funding provided through the Pupil Premium scheme in a variety of ways, with groups of targeted students to ensure that those supported by the grant are making accelerated progress and that gaps in students’ progress and attainment are closing. Whilst many of the activities are targeted specifically towards students who are entitled to PP, Waingels operates an open-access policy where ever possible.
To find out more about Pupil Premium Funding, please click here to view allocated funding.
You can also contact the school on pupilsupport@waingels.wokingham.sch.uk
Documents & Links
Application for Free School Meals
DFE Free School Meals Information Booklet
Pupil Premium Strategy December 2025