Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium is allocated to children from low-income families who are known to be eligible for Free School Meals (FSM). Schools are free to spend Pupil Premium as they see fit. However we will be held accountable for how we have used the additional funding to support our pupils from low-income families. Since September 2012, we have been required to publish online information about how we have used the premium. This will ensure that, parents and others stakeholders are made fully aware of the attainment of pupils covered by the premium and the extra support that they receive.  The Pupil Premium is additional to main school funding and it will be used by Lowca Community School to address any underlying inequalities between children associated with household monetary stress.

Tracking data shows that Pupil premium interventions were effective as the majority of pupil premium pupil’s rate of progress was at least, or more than, chronologically expected.

Pupil Premium allocations- 

The grant is to minimise the possible disadvantages associated with poverty and diminish the difference for pupils due to financial challenges. Pupils are tested at the end of each term at and their results are monitored. This termly tracking data is analysed on the penultimate day of each term. It currently shows that Pupil premium interventions are effective as the majority of pupil premium pupil’s rate of progress was at least, or more than, chronologically expected. This monitoring also takes into account pupil’s special educational needs.

Supplement educational trips and residential visits: £1,220

Additional classroom support teaching to allow for 1:1 pre-teaching, catch up or “in class” support and high staff to child ratio: £19,130

Supplement cultural events, extra curricular activities: £100

Total spend: £20,350

If your child has ever qualified for means tested free school meals they are known as “Pupil Premium”.  If you would like to know more about the strategies and help we give your child in employing the school allocation please contact the admin team to make an appointment with the Head Teacher.

Sports funding 2019- 2020

The allocation for this period was £16,490

We have used this to

• Provided a secure exercise area adjacent to junior class room .£800
• Judo subsidy (10 weeks for 1hr 30 mins) and kits.£250
• Swimming lessons, transport and staff supervision of weekly sessions.£2,970
• Each child to have a “fit bit” with watch and step/exercise counter.£150
• Interschool Rugby Union league, coaching and matches, transport.£120
• Taking part in outward bound activities subsidy.£255
• Cross country events with small schools.£40
• Small schools gymnastic events.£40
• Playground equipment to make playtimes more active.£800
• Thursday active outdoor session for science with additional T.A.£530
• 1 assembly each half term devoted to healthy lifestyles.£120

Total spend £16,355

Intent and impact

We discussed how to spend our sports funding with our pupils. They felt we should put a large investment in swimming, for safety reasons as we are on the coast and near rivers and lakes and also because there are local swimming facilities so this will be sustainable as the pupils mature and may decide themselves to swim regularly . We also feel that swimming gives children excellent exercise for physical health with less risk of injury. In addition all pupils can participate in the session and unlike some other ball sports, like football…all pupils participate rather than having a number of pupils “hanging back”, or “never being passed to.”

We feel this has been successful as all of the 8 yr 6 pupils last year were able to swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres. All of them also received the certificate for being able to use a range of strokes effectively and perform safe self-rescue in water based situations.