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Schools' pupil premium for England set at £430 Schools' pupil premium for England set at £430
(about 1 hour later)
The poorest pupils in England will get an extra £430 spent on them next year under the government's pupil premium scheme, it has been revealed.The poorest pupils in England will get an extra £430 spent on them next year under the government's pupil premium scheme, it has been revealed.
Schools will receive the money for every pupil whose parents have an annual income of less than £16,000.Schools will receive the money for every pupil whose parents have an annual income of less than £16,000.
Head teachers will be encouraged to spend it on reducing class sizes or more one-to-one tuition.Head teachers will be encouraged to spend it on reducing class sizes or more one-to-one tuition.
But Shadow Business Secretary John Denham says it is cash already in the budget simply being redistributed.But Shadow Business Secretary John Denham says it is cash already in the budget simply being redistributed.
The pupil premium has long been a flagship Liberal Democrat policy and it was already known that £2.5bn would be given to schools through the scheme by 2014/15.The pupil premium has long been a flagship Liberal Democrat policy and it was already known that £2.5bn would be given to schools through the scheme by 2014/15.
However, the cost to the government in 2011/12 - £625m - has been announced for the first time.However, the cost to the government in 2011/12 - £625m - has been announced for the first time.
The pupil premium has long been a flagship Liberal Democrat policy.
The idea is to give schools which take the poorest children more money so they can spend it on reducing class sizes or more one-to-one tuition.
It is hoped the premium will also act as a financial incentive to encourage successful schools to take in poorer children.
In the first year the policy will cost the government £625m and will rise to £2.5bn by 2014.
But critics argue there is no new money to pay for the pupil premium once inflation is taken into account and fear cuts elsewhere in teaching may have to be made to fund it.
'Con''Con'
Schools will be allowed to choose exactly how the extra money should be used and it is hoped the scheme will also act as a financial incentive to encourage successful schools to take in poorer children.Schools will be allowed to choose exactly how the extra money should be used and it is hoped the scheme will also act as a financial incentive to encourage successful schools to take in poorer children.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, said it was important to focus resources on the most disadvantaged children.The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, said it was important to focus resources on the most disadvantaged children.
He told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "It's [cash] on top of the underlying schools settlement, on top of the flat cash per pupil that schools are getting over the next few years...He told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "It's [cash] on top of the underlying schools settlement, on top of the flat cash per pupil that schools are getting over the next few years...
"It means that if you are running a school and you have children who receive free school meals then you will get an additional £430 for each of those pupils in the next school year.""It means that if you are running a school and you have children who receive free school meals then you will get an additional £430 for each of those pupils in the next school year."
But when pressed on the source of the finances, he accepted some of the cash would come from within the existing schools budget agreed in the settlement.But when pressed on the source of the finances, he accepted some of the cash would come from within the existing schools budget agreed in the settlement.
"We have been able to ensure that the schools budget rises in real terms, that is what the settlement does," he said."We have been able to ensure that the schools budget rises in real terms, that is what the settlement does," he said.
"By doing things like freezing the pay of public sector workers, including teachers, we are giving more spending power to schools but we are seeking to focus rises within that on the most disadvantaged children.""By doing things like freezing the pay of public sector workers, including teachers, we are giving more spending power to schools but we are seeking to focus rises within that on the most disadvantaged children."
But Mr Denham told the show it was just shifting money around that was already there, and about two-thirds of schools were going to see shrinking budgets.But Mr Denham told the show it was just shifting money around that was already there, and about two-thirds of schools were going to see shrinking budgets.
'Robbing Peter'
"It's a con, that's the trouble. I mean if it was new money going to the poorest pupils then I'm sure we'd be very pleased about it," he said."It's a con, that's the trouble. I mean if it was new money going to the poorest pupils then I'm sure we'd be very pleased about it," he said.
"But this is money that's already in the education budget simply being redistributed, robbing Peter to pay Paul.""But this is money that's already in the education budget simply being redistributed, robbing Peter to pay Paul."
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the move would have more benefit for social mobility than keeping a cap on tuition fees.Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the move would have more benefit for social mobility than keeping a cap on tuition fees.
"When money is tight, you have to be really clear about what your priorities are," he said."When money is tight, you have to be really clear about what your priorities are," he said.
"One of mine has always been making sure that the most disadvantaged children in this country get the help they need.
"Despite the recent controversy, all the evidence shows that the best way to help bright kids from poor families get to university is to target additional resources at them when they are younger and so give them a head start in life.
"By targeting money directly at our poorest children, the coalition government is starting on the long and hard road to breaking down one of the most socially segregated education systems in the developed world.""By targeting money directly at our poorest children, the coalition government is starting on the long and hard road to breaking down one of the most socially segregated education systems in the developed world."
The government says the amount per child will rise and more pupils will be covered as the cash allocated to the policy increases in future years. Funds will also be weighted to areas of the country where they are most needed.The government says the amount per child will rise and more pupils will be covered as the cash allocated to the policy increases in future years. Funds will also be weighted to areas of the country where they are most needed.
However, when the policy was first announced in October, Education Secretary Michael Gove admitted the scheme would lead to a cut in funding for some schools.However, when the policy was first announced in October, Education Secretary Michael Gove admitted the scheme would lead to a cut in funding for some schools.
Details of the pupil premium will be confirmed on Monday by Mr Gove when he announces the schools settlement.Details of the pupil premium will be confirmed on Monday by Mr Gove when he announces the schools settlement.