Additional Funding
PUPIL PREMIUM GRANT (PPG)
The Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) is additional funding provided by the Department for Education to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and help remove barriers to learning. Schools are expected to use this funding on evidence-informed approaches that support pupils' educational achievement, wellbeing, attendance and wider development. Pupil Premium is not a personal budget for individual pupils and may be used to support wider strategies that benefit disadvantaged pupils across the school..
For the 2026-2027 financial year, the funding rates are:
- Primary pupils eligible for Free School Meals (FSM), or who have been eligible at any point in the last six years (Ever 6 FSM): £1,550 per pupil.
- Secondary pupils eligible for FSM, or who have been eligible at any point in the last six years (Ever 6 FSM): £1,100 per pupil.
- Looked After Children (LAC): £2,690 per pupil.
- Previously Looked After Children (PLAC): £2,690 per pupil. This includes children adopted from care or those subject to a Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangements Order.
SERVICE PUPIL PREMIUM (SPP)
Service Pupil Premium (SPP) provides additional funding to support the pastoral needs of children from service families.
For the 2026-2027 financial year, schools receive £360 per eligible pupil. Pupils may be eligible if:
- A parent is currently serving in the regular armed forces.
- They have been recorded as a service child within the last six years.
- A parent died whilst serving in the armed forces and the pupil receives an eligible pension.
This funding is primarily used to provide pastoral support and help mitigate the impact of mobility, deployment and service life.
Could Your Child Be Eligible?
If you think your child may be eligible for Free School Meals, we encourage you to apply. Registering not only provides access to meals where appropriate but may also enable the school to receive additional funding through the Pupil Premium, helping us provide enhanced support and opportunities for pupils.
To check eligibility or apply, please visit:
- Cheshire West and Chester: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/education-and-learning/free-school-meals
- Cheshire East: https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/schools/school-meals/free_school_meals.aspx
use of ppg funding
At The Russett School, we use Pupil Premium funding to support our most disadvantaged pupils to achieve their full potential. Funding is allocated in line with Department for Education guidance and is focused on evidence-informed approaches that have the greatest impact on outcomes for pupils. This includes developing high-quality teaching, providing targeted support and addressing barriers to learning, attendance, communication and wellbeing.
Please see our PPG Strategy below, for further information about how we plan to spend PPG to support pupils at The Russett School.
PRIMARY PE & SPORTS PREMIUM
The Primary PE and Sport Premium was introduced in March 2013 to improve the provision of Physical Education (PE) and school sport in primary schools and academies across England. The £150 million per year funding is provided jointly by the Departments for Education, Health, and Culture, Media and Sport (DfE, DH, DCMS).
The funding is allocated directly to primary schools and is ring-fenced. This means it may only be spent on improving the provision of PE and sport in schools.
Schools and academies are held to account by Ofsted on how the funding is to be used. They need to use the funding to improve the quality and breadth of PE and sport provision and measure the impact from the funding on for example, attainment and take up of physical activities.
At The Russett School the focus for the use of the Primary PE & Sport Premium is on giving pupils first-hand experience of how to be as healthy and active as possible. We do this by providing opportunities for pupils to gain the knowledge, skills and motivation for healthy, active lifestyles with a wider interest in physical activity and sport.
Please refer to our report below on the allocation and impact of spending.
16-19 BURSARY FUND
What is the 16-19 Bursary Fund?
The Academy receives money from the Education & Skills Funding Agency to help students with the cost of studying. The fund is available to students who have lived in the UK or the EU for the past 3 years at least. There are two types of bursary available to young people, a Vulnerable Bursary and Discretionary Bursary.
More information about the 16-19 Bursary Fund can be found on the government website: https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund
Vulnerable Bursary
If you fall into one of the following categories, then you fall into the higher priority group and will receive a Vulnerable Bursary of up to £1,200 per year to help with the cost of studying:
- You are in or recently left local authority care
- You get Income Support or Universal Credit in your own name
- You get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in your own name AND either Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit
- You get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in your name AND either Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit
Discretionary Bursary
If you live at home with your parent(s) or carer(s) who receive benefits and have a total yearly income of under £28,400 you fall into the lower priority group and MAY be eligible for financial support.
How can I apply for the Bursary Fund?
An application form and guidance leaflet are available to download from The Russett School website or can be requested from the academy office on 01606 853005 or email admin@russett.set.org
Downloadable 16-19 Bursary Fund application form and guidance leaflet: (below)