In March 2023, the Department for Education announced a five per cent increase in pupil premium funding for the 2023-24 academic year. Inflation means that in reality this is only a two per cent increase, just one way that the cost-of-living crisis is affecting education for disadvantaged students. Following the further widening of the disadvantage gap by the disruption caused by Covid-19s, it is vital to make sure that Pupil Premium works for all students.

The Education Endowment Foundation calls pupil premium the ‘key lever’ for closing this gap over the coming years. Through sharing best practice, schools can build on their existing measures and successes to support disadvantaged students to reach their potential.

• 23.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals in 2023, up from 22.5% in 2022, according to the School Census 2023
• According to the Department for Education, GCSE students eligible for free school meals are 27% less likely to achieve good passes in English and maths than their peers.
• In 2021, the disadvantage gap for GCSE pupils widened by 0.1, bringing the gap to 1.34 grades according to the Education Policy Institute.
• Pupil Premium spending totalled £2.9billion in 2023-24 (Department for Education, 2023).

Join us at this one day online event to hear experts from across the public and voluntary sectors discuss the latest strategies and initiatives to close the disadvantage gap. Engage with best practice case studies addressing key challenges such as catching up after Covid, improving attendance, and evaluating the effectiveness of pupil premium strategies. You will also have the opportunity to network with senior colleagues from across the education sector to share common challenges and discuss strategies to best spend pupil premium funding.

Why Attend:
• High-level keynotes on the latest initiatives to maximise pupil premium spending
• Case studies showcasing best practice in developing multi-agency approaches
• A wide range of topics including improving SEND provision, developing cultural capital, and raising attainment
• Network with senior colleagues from across the sector to share common challenges and improve your pupil premium provision
• CPD (gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota).