The Pupil Premium is allocated to schools with pupils on roll that are known to have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any time in the last six years; that are children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months; or that are children of service personnel. Schools have the freedom to spend the Pupil Premium, which is additional to the underlying schools budget, in a way they think will best support the raising of attainment for the most vulnerable pupils.

 

Free School Meals Eligibility

Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:

• Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be £7,400 a year or less (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.

Your child may also get free school meals if you get any of these benefits and your child is both:

• younger than the compulsory age for starting school
• in full-time education

From the start of academic year 2026 to 2027 (September 2026), your child will qualify for free school meals if you get Universal Credit, regardless of household income.

If you do not qualify for most benefits (also known as having ‘no recourse to public funds’), your child may still be eligible for free school meals. Ask their school or local authority whether they’re eligible.

Check your eligibility 

Parents are required to complete a Free School Meals Application form available from the school, or the form is accessible on this page or direct from the Birmingham website which can be found using this link.

In making provision for socially disadvantaged pupils, we recognise that not all pupils who receive free school meals will be socially disadvantaged.  We also recognise that not all pupils who are socially disadvantaged are registered or qualify for free school meals so we therefore reserve the right to allocate the Pupil Premium funding to support any pupil or group of pupils the school has legitimately identified as being socially disadvantaged.

Pupil Premium is reviewed on an annual basis. The date for the next Pupil Premium Review is July 2027.

Documents:

Barford Pupil Premium Strategy Plan 2025-2028 and Review of 2024-2025

Barford Pupil Premium Strategy Plan 2021-2024

Barford Pupil Premium Strategy Plan Review 2021- 2022

Barford Pupil Premium Strategy Plan Review 2022- 2023

Barford Pupil Premium Strategy Plan Review 2023- 2024

Barford Pupil Premium Strategy Plan 2026 - 2028

Government Pupil Premium Guidance