CAG Pupil Premium Strategy Statement - 2023-2026
Pupil premium strategy statement
This statement details our school’s use of pupil premium (and recovery premium for the 2021 to 2022 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.
- Academy overview
Detail | Data |
Academy name | Co-op Academy Grange |
Number of pupils in academy | 1474 |
Proportion (%) of pupil premium eligible pupils | 51.3% |
Academic year/years that our current pupil premium strategy plan covers (3 year plans are recommended) | 2023 - 2026 |
Date this statement was published | December 22nd 2023 |
Date on which it will be reviewed | December 11th 2023 |
Statement authorised by | AIB - Co-op Academy Grange |
Pupil premium lead | Paul Goodrum |
Governor / Trustee lead | Dr C Tomlinson |
Funding overview
Detail | Amount |
Pupil premium funding allocation this academic year | £686,995 |
Recovery premium funding allocation this academic year | £193,200 |
Pupil premium funding carried forward from previous years (enter £0 if not applicable) | £19,805 |
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 | £900,000 |
Part A: Pupil premium strategy plan
Statement of intent
Statement of intent | |
At Co-op Academy Grange we have the highest of expectations of all of our pupils. We do not presume disadvantaged students have certain barriers or attitudes towards their education and we don’t have preconceptions about what disadvantage means. Instead, we want to understand and identify specific barriers and consider how to best provide support. The strategy is built around the pupils' needs rather than what we presume the pupils may need. EEF guidance underpins our pupil premium strategy, we ensure that students have access to high quality teaching, a suite of targeted academic intervention and a range of extracurricular opportunities. We will develop the whole child to overcome every barrier. Leaders at all levels drive forward this strategy and recognise that high quality teaching and learning is the main priority. We firmly believe that quality first teaching will have the greatest impact on our disadvantaged pupils. We invest the pupil premium funding heavily into staff recruitment to ensure the best practitioners are in place to provide quality first teaching. students. Wider student experiences and targeted academic support are key in creating a school community where all students, including disadvantaged students, feel a sense of belonging. We carefully use reading data to ensure disadvantaged students receive support with their reading and we have a holistic whole school approach to reading to ensure that vocabulary is taught explicitly, and reading skills are developed. CEIAG is threaded through the curriculum exposing students to LMI and a range of careers and all students have access to a dedicated careers advisor. |
Challenges
- This details the key challenges to achievement that we have identified among our disadvantaged pupils.
Detail of challenge | |
1 | Attendance rates (including Persistent Absentees) for students eligible for Pupil Premium funding over Term 1 2023/2024 were lower - a 5% gap for attendance - 77.5% for PP students - and a gap of 10% for Persistent Absentees). This will impact negatively on the progress and attainment of our disadvantaged cohort. |
2 | Students eligible for Pupil Premium funding are disproportionately represented in suspension figures, with nearly two-thirds of suspensions coming from less than half of the school population; our cohort of disadvantaged students. This negatively impacts attendance, attainment and a sense of belonging to the school and community. |
3 | Students eligible for Pupil Premium funding, have lower chronological reading ages (70% are below this stage). This will act as a significant barrier to accessing the curriculum and productively engaging in learning. |
4 | As students join us in Year 7, there is an attainment gap on entry. Students eligible for pupil premium funding had an average KS2 score of 102 (compared to the national average of 105). Most recent internal data suggests the gap expands to nearly a whole grade and there is nearly two-thirds of a grade difference between the progress score of pupil premium students at Co-op Academy Grange and similar students nationally. |
5 |
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 |
Improve attendance for Pupil Premium students and therefore narrow/close the gap between PP and other students. |
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Improve attainment and progress of our disadvantaged cohort as a result of our renewed focus on high quality teaching as well as reading, oracy and numeracy strategies |
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Improve the resilience and emotional/self regulation skills of our disadvantaged students, so that suspensions are reduced |
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Improve the proportion of PP students who are at or above their chronological reading age |
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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 | £ 450, 000 |
Activity | Evidence that supports this approach | Challenge number addressed |
Recruitment of Lead Practitioners to English, Maths and Science | The EEF key principles identify that ‘good teaching is the most important lever schools have to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils’. EEF research and evidence has shown that ‘great teaching and careful planning can make a huge impact on the outcomes of disadvantaged children. | 4 |
Recruitment of specialist staff to on-site alternative provision | ‘The effects of high-quality teaching are especially significant for students from disadvantaged backgrounds: over a school year, these students gain 1.5 years’ worth of learning with very effective teachers, compared with 0.5 years with poorly performing teachers.’ (Sutton Trust, 2011). | 2 |
Bespoke internal CPD sessions led by Lead Practitioners | Targeted questioning improves participation in lessons, engagement, and ultimately Attitude to Learning grades. High-quality feedback raises achievement and has an effect size of 0.7 (Hattie, 2015) EEF Metacognition - The seven-step model:
| 4g |
Bespoke ECT CPD sessions led by AHT | 4 | |
National College + staff enrolled on NPQ courses | 4 | |
Use of Walkthrus to support CPD and instructional coaching | One of the most important things that we can do to improve pupil outcomes is to continuously develop the quality of teaching and learning (Higgins et al. 2014) Designed by Tom Sherrington and Oliver Cavigioli, Walkthrus has drawn from the work of prominent researchers and cognitive scientists including Dylan Wiliam, Barak Rosenshine, Dan Willingham, Graham Nuthall and Efrast Furst. | 4 |
Deep Dive Curriculum Review | The Research for Education Inspection highlights that achievement is maximised when teachers actively present material and structure taking into consideration cognitive science research, and the use of models and instruction. “Cognitive science principles of learning can have a significant impact on rates of learning in the classroom. There is value in teachers having some working knowledge of cognitive science principles. “ EEF Cognitive Science in the classroom: Evidence and Practice Review 2021 | 4 |
Introduction of a new Feedback Policy | ‘All school leaders understand the importance of providing meaningful feedback. Done well, it supports pupil progress, building learning, addressing misunderstandings, and thereby closing the gap between where a pupil is and where the teacher wants them to be.’ Teacher Feedback to Improve Pupil Learning | EEF (educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk) | 4 |
Development of reciprocal reading strategy and unlocking vocabulary | The Improving Literacy (secondary) evidence report highlights the importance of a focus on prioritising ‘disciplinary literacy’ across the curriculum providing explicit vocabulary instruction to help students access and use academic language Reading comprehension strategies are high impact on average (+7 months in secondary) Improving Literacy in Secondary Schools| EEF (educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk) | 3 |
Targeted academic support (for example, tutoring, one-to-one support structured interventions)
Budgeted cost | £ 225,000 |
Activity | Evidence that supports this approach | Challenge number(s) addressed |
Provide online support packages to support students' independent learning. Effective promotion and monitoring departmentally and the whole school to promote for all students, focusing on those who are classed as pupil premium. (E.g. GCSEPod, Dr Frost Maths) | EEF Toolkit shows a +5 months improvement for homework. | 3,4 |
Strategic use of external tuition providers through the NTP to provide regular tuition and intensive courses to close gaps in learning. | EEF Toolkit shows a +4 months improvement for small group tuition. | 4 |
Use of ART reading tests to assess students’ reading ages and then implement targeted support where there is a need. | By providing time and support for teachers to define high quality reading and oracy, this in turn can be translated into high quality writing in all subjects, depending on the demands of the subject. — ‘What is Disciplinary Literacy and Why Does it Matter?’ by Timothy and Cynthia Shanahan (2012). EEF Toolkit shows a +6 months improvement for reading comprehension strategies. | 3 |
Use of online reading program, reading plus, to develop comprehension, vocabulary and fluency. | 3 | |
All staff have high expectations of oracy across the academy. Staff support students in selecting the correct register for communication through reference to the formality scale. | There is evidence to suggest that pupils from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to be behind their more advantaged counterparts in developing early language and speech skills, which may affect their school experience and learning later in their school lives. Given that Oral language interventions can be used to provide additional support to pupils who are behind their peers in oral language development, the targeted use of approaches may support some disadvantaged pupils to catch up with peers, particularly when this is provided one-to-one.EEF research reference:Oral language intervention + 6 months | 4 |
Fresh Start programme for students who are new to English to rapidly allow better and more comprehensive access to the whole curriculum. | The Ruth Miskin programme is a DFE approved program. The Improving Literacy (secondary) evidence report highlights the importance of a focus on supporting struggling readers through the use of an accredited program. EEF Toolkit shows a +5 months improvement for phonics. Studies in England have shown that pupils eligible for free school meals typically receive similar or slightly greater benefit from phonics interventions and approaches. This is likely to be due to the explicit nature of the instruction and the intensive support provided. It is possible that some disadvantaged pupils may not develop phonological awareness at the same rate as other pupils, having been exposed to fewer words spoken and books read in the home. Targeted phonics interventions may therefore improve decoding skills more quickly for pupils who have experienced these barriers to learning.EEF research reference:Phonics +5 months | 3,4 |
Continue to engage with programmes such as SHINE and Brilliant club to provide targeted students with additional support in their study skills and other key skills such as presenting. | Mentoring offers a +2 months improvement according to the EEF toolkit. | 4 |
Wider Strategies
(for example, related to attendance, behaviour, wellbeing)
Budgeted cost | £ 225,000 |
Activity | Evidence that supports this approach | Challenge number(s) addressed |
Proportionate allocation of Attendance Team to track and intervene with key groups and students. Staged response to all students who fall below the trigger points. (contact with parents/ home visits/attendance contract/ attendance panel and fixed penalty notices where applicable.) Improve the offer at Breakfast Club so students are encouraged to be on time for school in the morning. Support for students through alternative provision to encourage an increase in daily attendance to an educational setting. Funding of Jamie’s Farm Programme to engage PP students with low attendance. | 1 | |
Careers Education Support Y10 PP Students IAG Term 3 Y11 PP Students Prioritised for IAG (RONI List) Termly Support - AWN (Minimum 3 Appt. Y11 Next Steps Planning/Applications) Career Activities (KS3 & KS4) e.g. Visits/Workshops Minimum 65% PP Students. | Data shows that when schools meet all eight benchmarks they can expect 10% more students to make a successful transition into further education, training or employment, compared to if no Benchmarks are achieved. This effect doubles to 20% in schools with the most disadvantaged students. Good Careers Guidance | 1 |
Extracurricular Activities Breakfast/Lunch/Afterschool 50% PP participation Dec ‘23 65% PP participation March ‘24 80% PP participation July ‘24 Extracurricular Rewards Jan ‘24 to further support PP engagement. | Recent research on cultural capital argues that extracurricular activities may enhance children's intellectual creativity, breadth, and scope (Kaufman and Gabler, 2004) and moreover that cultural participation may lead to a genuine increase in analytical and academic competence (Kisida et al, 2004) EEF research, identified through the case study at Limpsfield Grange School, shows that supporting students to access a range of off-site trips and experiences had a positive impact on the engagement and achievement of their disadvantaged students. | 1 |
Enrichment Opportunities PP Students to have access to wider opportunities to enrichment e.g. Internal drop down activities and external enrichment trips & visits. 50% PP participation Dec ‘23 60% PP participation March ‘24 70% PP participation July ‘24 | 1 | |
Mentoring Programmes Brilliant Club (Y8 HA/PP) Scholars Programme Manchester/Sheffield Uni Envision (Y9 PP) Employer Supported Mentoring REACH (Y9 PP) Employer Supported Mentoring SHINE (Y9/10 PP) Mentoring - York University YAYA (Y10/11 PP) New College Mentoring (Y10/11) 60% PP Raising Aspirations Bradford New College (Y10/11 PP) Peer Mentoring Programme Next Steps Ready Russell Group University (Huddersfield) | Mentoring offers a +2 months improvement according to the EEF toolkit | 1 |
Well-Being Think for the Future (years 7-10) Resilience mentoring-50 PP students 57% PP St Giles (Years 7-8) providing support for students at risk of serious violence - 4 PP students 100% PP Step2 counselling Y7-11 1:1 counselling - 3 PP students 75% PP Emerge (Y7-11) SEMH support - 21 PP students 75% PP School counsellor Y7-11 17 PP students 85% PP Youth in Mind Y8-11 13 PP students 62% Flourished Minds Y8-9 2 PP student 50% PP | Meta-analysis research demonstrates that mentoring is associated with a wide range of favourable behavioural, attitudinal, health-related, relational, motivational, and career outcomes (Eby et al, 2008) | 1 |
Total budgeted cost
Total budgeted cost | £900,000 |
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 2022 to 2023 academic year.
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 |
Scholars Programme | The Brilliant Club |
Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) | GL assessments |
Universify | Universify Education |
Jamie’s Farm residential and weekly visit programmes | Jamie’s Farm |
Student Coaching | Flourished Minds |
Assertive Mentoring | Think For The Future |