Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium Strategy Statement

This statement details our school’s use of pupil premium, service pupil premium (and recovery premium for the 2022 to 2023 academic year) funding to help improve the attainment of our disadvantaged pupils.

It outlines our pupil premium strategy, how we intend to spend the funding in this academic year and the effect that last year’s spending of pupil premium had within our school.

School overview

School overview

Detail

Data

School name

Saint George Catholic College

Number of pupils in school

988

Proportion (%) of pupil premium eligible pupils

16.0

Academic year/years that our current pupil premium strategy plan covers (3 year plans are recommended)

2021-2024

Date this statement was published

Wednesday 12th October 2022

Date on which it will be reviewed

October 2023

Statement authorised by

James Habberley                      Head Teacher

Pupil premium lead

Alex Bedford

Senior Assistant Head Teacher

Governor / Trustee lead

Anna McCormack

Chair of Governors

Funding overview

Detail

Amount

Pupil premium funding allocation this academic year

£ 177550

Recovery premium funding allocation this academic year

£ 44712

Pupil premium funding carried forward from previous years (enter £0 if not applicable)

£ 0

Total budget for this academic year

If your school is an academy in a trust that pools this funding, state the amount available to your school this academic year

£ 222262

Part A: Pupil Premium strategy plan

Statement of intent

 

At St George we pride ourselves on supporting the individual. Understanding our students’ needs is key to supporting them the best we can. As such, we use our academic and pastoral monitoring systems to identify groups and individuals in need and allocate our pupil premium funding accordingly to achieve their goals. Our ultimate aim is to ensure all our students are happy, independent and successful. This is summarised by our mission statement “We ASPIRE to be all that God has created us to be”

Our intention is that all pupils, irrespective of their background or the challenges they face, make good progress and achieve high attainment across the curriculum. High quality teaching is at the heart of our approach and has proven to have the most impact on closing the disadvantaged attainment gap. Our strategy for improving outcomes and providing more opportunities for disadvantaged pupils is integral to our whole school development plan alongside wider plans for targeted support through the national tutoring programme. To ensure they are effective we will:

  • Ensure disadvantaged pupils are challenged in the work that they’re set.
  • Act early to intervene at the point the need is identified.
  • Maintain our whole school approach in which all staff take responsibility for disadvantaged pupils’ outcomes and raise expectations of what they can achieve.

 

Challenges

This details the key challenges to achievement that we have identified among our disadvantaged pupils.

Challenge number

Detail of challenge

1

Raising outcomes of disadvantaged pupils compared to other pupils in school and nationally.

2

Improving low literacy levels that prevent students from accessing the curriculum, specifically in years 7,8 & 9.

3

Ensuring students are prepared to go on and be succesful once they leave St George.

4

Improving low attendance affecting students’ ability to experience the high-quality teaching in lessons and benefitting from the pastoral support available on site.

Intended outcomes

This explains the outcomes we are aiming for by the end of our current strategy plan, and how we will measure whether they have been achieved.

Intended outcome

Success criteria

Reduce the in-school attainment GAP, for DP compared with other pupils. Disadvantaged students to make progress in line with national other or better.

By the end of our current plan in 2024/25 our basics 9-4 outcomes for disadvantaged outcomes to be above national other

The in-school basics 9-4 gap <10%

To achieve a positive P8 score for DP students

Improve reading ages in order to access the more demanding 9-1 curriculum.

Reading comprehension tests show that the GAP in reading age to actual age has reduced

Support students to go on to be successful at the next stage of their education or apprenticeship. Students access a wide variety of pastoral support focused on the individual.

Pupils staying in education or employment >95%. Students choose a variety of difference colleges and courses. Student attendance is >95% following pastoral support where and when its required.

To Improve the attendance of disadvantaged pupils.

Attendance of >95%

Activity in this academic year

This details how we intend to spend our pupil premium (and recovery premium funding) this academic year to address the challenges listed above.

Teaching (for example, CPD, recruitment and retention)

Budgeted cost: £ 68151

Activity

Evidence that supports this approach

Challenge number(s) addressed

AHT Leadership Role

Dedicated member of SLT assigned to lead and manage pupil premium strategy. It is essential that a senior member of the leadership team has responsibility for our pupil premium strategy as they have the authority, experience, time and skills to be able to ensure there is an effective plan in place to support those students.

1, 2, 3, 4

Additional set in KS4 English & Maths

Additional sets allow targeted groups to be created and support student abilities. Reduced class sizes allow for more individual support from class teacher. Additional class also allows tiering in Maths to support individual student pathways. This approach is supported by evidence from the EEF https://d2tic4wvo1iusb.cloudfront.net/documents/guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium/Pupil_Premium_Guide_Apr_2022_1.0.pdf   that states that targeted support to smaller groups can make a significant difference to pupil progress.

 

1, 2, 3

TLR for Literacy & Numeracy co-ordinators

Literacy & Numeracy strategies implemented across the college to support all students progress. Evidence of the positive impact a literacy and numeracy co-ordinators can have on our disadvantaged pupils is supported by the EEF https://d2tic4wvo1iusb.cloudfront.net/documents/guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium/Pupil_Premium_menu_evidence_brief.pdf.pdf?v=1649431092 With 47% of our cohort being EAL there is a clear need to focus on ensuring our students are able to read and communicate effectively in order to access the curriculum. The evidence suggests that pupils make significant progress when they receive targeted literacy and or numeracy intervention through a whole school literacy and numeracy strategy via tutor time or targeted within the curriculum. Our literacy and numeracy co-ordinators are in place to implement this.

1, 2, 3

Appointed an additional Maths & English Teacher to provide Literacy and Numeracy interventions in curriculum time.

Additional Maths & English teachers are timetabled to provide literacy and numeracy interventions in years 7&8 to key students within their curriculum time. The intention is this will improve students reading ages and support their confidence & progress in Maths. As above supporting evidence for this approach comes from the EEF https://d2tic4wvo1iusb.cloudfront.net/documents/guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium/Pupil_Premium_Guide_Apr_2022_1.0.pdf      that states that targeted support to smaller groups can make a significant difference to pupil progress. By appointing an additional Maths and English teacher we are able to provide additional literacy and numeracy interventions writing curriculum time to small groups of students.

1, 4

 

Targeted academic support (for example, tutoring, one-to-one support structured interventions)

Budgeted cost: £ 25300

Activity

Evidence that supports this approach

Challenge number (s) addressed

Half term school

Targeted intervention for students identified for lost learning due to COVID. Saint George has noticed post COVID how important it is we ensure students are supported to catch up on their learning, topics they have missed or misconceptions they have. Providing opportunity to target support to students to address their misconceptions has proven to have a positive impact on student outcomes at Saint George. This is supported by the EEF https://d2tic4wvo1iusb.cloudfront.net/documents/guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium/Pupil_Premium_menu_evidence_brief.pdf.pdf?v=1649431092  

1, 3

1 to1 Tutoring

Targeted intervention for students identified for lost learning due to COVID. Please review the document from the EEF that states what impact 1-1 tuition can have on improving student progress. By putting in place intensive 1-1 support or small group support this is likely to have the biggest impact on student progress according to the EEF https://d2tic4wvo1iusb.cloudfront.net/documents/guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium/Pupil_Premium_menu_evidence_brief.pdf.pdf?v=1649431092

  

1, 3

Music lessons

Supporting students to undertake a broad and balanced curriculum tailored to the individual. Evidence from the EEF https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/teaching-learning-toolkit/arts-participation suggests that participation in Arts based activities ensures the students pay an important part in developing the students wider skills set and their general interests and well-being at school. It is hoped this will improve confidence and student attendance.

1, 3

Home Language Tutor

Supporting students to undertake a broad and balanced curriculum tailored to the individual. With 47% of our cohort defined as EAL it is essential that students feel supported with their home language if they wish to take it as a GCSE but also to support students and their parent’s journey at Saint George. We believe that this improves students range of qualifications and allows that to better integrate into school ensuring any misconceptions are addressed.

1, 3

Educational resources

Providing educational resources to students to develop their independence and support their academic achievements. By supporting students with revision guides, text books, laptops this should to improve students learning. Laptops have been essential for students to be able to complete homework, coursework, college applications and communicate with teachers when required to. This is supported by the EEF as an effective strategy for advantaged students.

https://d2tic4wvo1iusb.cloudfront.net/documents/guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium/Pupil_Premium_menu_evidence_brief.pdf.pdf?v=1649431092

 

1, 3

Educational trips

Provides enrichment opportunities to develop individual’s cultural capital and apply this to their studies where appropriate. Evidence from the EEF suggests that extracurricular activities and trips are an important part of education in its own right. These approaches increase engagement in learning, but also improves can have a positive impact on student’s wellbeing. https://d2tic4wvo1iusb.cloudfront.net/documents/guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium/Pupil_Premium_menu_evidence_brief.pdf.pdf?v=1649431092  

 

1, 3, 4

Wider strategies (for example, related to attendance, behaviour, wellbeing) Budgeted cost: £ 129721

Activity

Evidence that supports this approach

Challenge number(s) addressed

Inclusion manager

Supporting individual needs of students to engage in the full life of the school where possible. Ensuring an Inclusion manager is in place means there is a member of staff in place to manage our inclusion centre and ensure all its students feel supported and want to attend Saint George. Without a manager behaviour is affected negatively in mainstream lessons, and the student’s attendance at school drops because they don’t get the support they need. 

1, 3, 4

Inclusion team

Supporting individual needs of students to engage in the full life of the school where possible. Evidence from the EEF suggests that Social and emotional skills support effective learning and are linked to positive outcomes later in life. Therefore, an inclusion team are in place to support students when required.

https://d2tic4wvo1iusb.cloudfront.net/documents/guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium/Pupil_Premium_menu_evidence_brief.pdf.pdf?v=1649431092  

1, 3, 4

AP Teacher

Provides a bespoke curriculum for individual students with the aim of returning to mainstream lessons as soon as appropriate for the individual. Evidence from our own individual pathway programme has shown it has a positive impact on reducing suspension for students who were not coping in mainstream lessons and increased attendance for vulnerable pupils who were refusing to come to school.

1, 3, 4

ELSA support

Supporting individual needs of students to engage in the full life of the school where possible. The number of students struggling with their mental health post COVID has increased significantly. Therefore, in order to cope with the demand for support Saint George has three trained ELSA’s in place to support our students.

1, 3, 4

Careers officer

Individual careers advice and guidance to support students making informed choices about their next steps after leaving St George. Saint George must have a Careers Advisor in place. Funds are used to ensure the Careers officer is able to support our students in making future careers choices but also developing a Careers programme within school that meets the Gatsby benchmarks. The % of students going onto education, apprenticeship or employment is above national.

3, 4

Mental Health Nurse

Supporting individual needs of students to engage in the full life of the school where possible. The number of students struggling with their mental health post COVID has increased significantly affecting student’s health, attendance and academic performance. Therefore, the EEF identify the importance of improving of looking after student’s wellbeing to support effective learning. This links to positive outcomes later in life. https://d2tic4wvo1iusb.cloudfront.net/documents/guidance-for-teachers/pupil-premium/Pupil_Premium_menu_evidence_brief.pdf.pdf?v=1649431092  

3, 4

Transport

Supporting students to attend school. Every child must come to school. Saint George is not a catchment school and therefore it is essential the school supports where possible transport costs so that students are able to get a school or public bus to school.

1, 4

Discretionary fund

Allocated to support individual needs as they arise. Every student has different needs and therefore its important that we have a fund available to support a range requests where they have a positive impact on the student.

3, 4

 

Total budgeted cost: £ 223172

Part B: Review of outcomes in the previous academic year

Pupil premium strategy outcomes

This details the impact that our pupil premium activity had on pupils in the 2021 to 2022 academic year.

 

Pupils eligible for PP (your school)

Pupils not eligible for PP (national average 2019)

Progress 8 score average* 2020, 2021 & 2022

+0.44, +0.16, +0.04

+0.13

Attainment 8 score average 2020, 2021 & 2022

51.4, 45.8, 48.42

50.1

Basics 9-4 2020, 2021 & 2022

73.7, 65.7, 74.5

71.7

Basics 9-5 2020, 2021 & 2022

52.6, 31.4, 51.0

49.5

Staying in education or employment (2019 leavers)

97% (Whole school)

94%

Attendance 2020-21, 2021-22

92.5%, 89.5%

95.5% (2019)

91.3% (FFT 2022)

 

*2020, 2021 & 2022 Progress * headline figures are calculated from SISRA analytics calculations, using the 2019 A8 tables as performance tables not produced due to Covid-19.

The table below details the outcomes of our disadvantaged pupils for the previous three years where national data has been available.

 

Pupils eligible for PP (your school)

Pupils not eligible for PP (national average 2019)

Progress 8 score 2017, 2018 & 2019

+0.28, +0.67, +0.35

+0.13

Attainment 8 score 2017, 2018 & 2019

41.6, 46.9, 50.0

50.1

Basics 9-4 2017, 2018 & 2019

60.0, 68.0, 70.0

71.7

Basics 9-5 2017, 2018 & 2019

25.0, 32.0, 41.7

49.5

 

Challenge number

Impact Review

1

Our disadvantaged students have outperformed national other students for Basics at 9-4 and 9-5. They also have a positive progress 8 score. The in-school GAP has however widened as a direct result of Covid-19, as seen nationally and an area we are continuing to work on for the next two years.

2

Our literacy programme has seen an average of 3 extra months progress to students reading ages for those enrolled on the programme and we will continue to grow this support.

3

Students were supported on individual basis with personalised advice tailored to the individual and are attending a wide variety of courses at a number of different colleges. Help for attending interviews and taster days also supported students making the transition to college. This is evidenced from the initial college attendance data in Sept 22.

4

Attendance figures fell nationally due to Covid-19. Irrespective of this, the gap between national attendance and our disadvantaged students reduced from 3% to 2%. Our target remains for all students attendance to be above 95%.

Externally provided programmes

Please include the names of any non-DfE programmes that you purchased in the previous academic year. This will help the Department for Education identify which ones are popular in England

Programme

Provider

Accelerated Reader

Renaissance

External Motivational Speaker

Action Jackson

Educational Consultant/ Study Skills

Michelle Miller

Service pupil premium funding (optional)

For schools that receive this funding, you may wish to provide the following information:

Measure

Details

How did you spend your service pupil premium allocation last academic year?

The school received £1920 to support service pupil premium. This funding is allocated to provide additional pastoral support and is included in the wider strategies budget (please see above)

What was the impact of that spending on service pupil premium eligible pupils?

Service pupil students accessed the pastoral team to support their wellbeing on an individual basis. This had a positive impact on the students attendance, which allowed them to participate in the full curriculum and attend a variety of enrichment activities and trips.