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Pupil Premium

What is Pupil Premium?

The Pupil Premium is additional funding provided by the Department for Education to support schools in addressing the attainment gap for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

At Haberdashers’ Knights Academy, we are committed to ensuring that every student—regardless of their starting point—has access to an excellent education and the opportunity to succeed. The Pupil Premium is a key part of how we deliver on this commitment.

The grant is allocated to schools annually, and it is the responsibility of each school to decide how best to use this funding to meet the needs of their students. We carefully plan, monitor and evaluate our use of Pupil Premium funding to ensure it has the greatest possible impact. We also publish an annual statement outlining how the funding is spent and the difference it makes.

The Department for Education defines a pupil as ‘disadvantaged’ if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

Pupils in any year group from Reception to Year 11 who have been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years
Children who are currently looked after by a local authority
Children who have previously been looked after (for example through adoption, a special guardianship order or child arrangements order)
Children in receipt of a child pension from the Ministry of Defence

Our Approach at Knights Academy

In line with our ASPIRE values—Accountability, Self-Discipline, Partnership, Integrity, Respect and Excellence—we take a proactive and inclusive approach to supporting disadvantaged students.

We believe that high expectations and strong support must go hand in hand. Our focus is not on labels, but on understanding and removing barriers to learning so that every student can thrive.

We recognise that barriers to achievement can vary for each individual. These may include:

Gaps in literacy and numeracy
Lower attendance or punctuality
Social, emotional or wellbeing needs
Limited access to enrichment opportunities

However, at Knights Academy, we treat every student as an individual. We work closely with students, families and staff to identify specific needs and respond with targeted, high-quality support—both in the classroom and beyond.

Our Vision

Our vision is to provide an exceptional and inclusive education for all students. We have a clear moral purpose: to ensure that every young person receives the best possible start in life and is supported to achieve their full potential—personally, academically and socially.

Pupil Premium funding plays a vital role in enabling this. It allows us to provide targeted interventions, enrich learning experiences, and ensure that no student is disadvantaged by their circumstances.

How We Use Pupil Premium

At Knights Academy, we ensure that:

All students benefit from a high-quality, knowledge-rich curriculum and excellent teaching
Disadvantaged students are identified early and supported effectively to make strong academic progress
Differences in outcomes between disadvantaged students and their peers are rigorously monitored and addressed
Support is tailored to meet individual needs, including academic, pastoral and enrichment provision
We retain the flexibility to support any student we identify as being in need, even if they do not meet the formal criteria

Working in Partnership

We know that strong partnerships between school and home are essential. We actively encourage parents and carers to engage with the school and support their child’s learning journey. Together, we can ensure that every student is supported to succeed.

Pupil Premium Statement

Please click below to view our latest Pupil Premium Strategy Statement, including details of how funding is allocated and the impact of previous spending.

Haberdashers' Knights Academy

Pupil Premium

Together, Stronger