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<p>In July 2010, the previous Government launched a consultation on introducing a
pupil premium. This identified potential indicators for distributing the pupil premium
towards economically disadvantaged pupils. These included: current and historic Free
School Meal (FSM) eligibility, an indicator based on a pupil’s family being in receipt
of out of work tax credits; and area-based measures of deprivation such as Mosaic
or Acorn.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In response to the consultation, it was concluded
that the best available indicator used to reflect socio-economic disadvantage from
2011-12 onwards would be FSM eligibility, because this is the only current pupil-level
indicator; it is familiar to parents, schools and local authorities; it is easily
collected and updated annually; and schools will know precisely which of their pupils
are eligible. Furthermore, there is strong evidence that pupils who are currently
or have recently been eligible for FSM have lower educational outcomes than their
peers. In 2011-12, the pupil premium was allocated to schools on the basis of pupils
currently FSM eligible; and from April 2012 onwards on the basis of pupils who have
been FSM eligible at any point in the last six years. The consultation response is
available here: <a href="http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/t/the%20school%20funding%20settlement%20for%202011%2012%20the%20pupil%20premium%20and%20dedicated%20schools%20grant.pdf"
target="_blank">http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/t/the%20school%20funding%20settlement%20for%202011%2012%20the%20pupil%20premium%20and%20dedicated%20schools%20grant.pdf</a></p>
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