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Has the pupil premium lost its gloss? | Has the pupil premium lost its gloss? |
(1 day later) | |
By Mike Baker Analysis | By Mike Baker Analysis |
The upbeat message from the coalition government about school spending - the so-called "rabbit out of the hat" in the spending review - now looks rather less impressive. | The upbeat message from the coalition government about school spending - the so-called "rabbit out of the hat" in the spending review - now looks rather less impressive. |
Indeed, the rabbit appears to have scurried back down its hole. | Indeed, the rabbit appears to have scurried back down its hole. |
It is not just that the promised small "real terms increase" for schools has now evaporated thanks to the latest upwards estimate of the rate of inflation. | It is not just that the promised small "real terms increase" for schools has now evaporated thanks to the latest upwards estimate of the rate of inflation. |
Nor is it just that, as the government confirmed in its spending allocations statement, "some individual schools" will not only fail to get a real terms spending increase, but may get an absolute cash terms cut. | Nor is it just that, as the government confirmed in its spending allocations statement, "some individual schools" will not only fail to get a real terms spending increase, but may get an absolute cash terms cut. |
But, even more significantly in view of the hype that preceded it, the pupil premium has turned out to be a rather smaller white rabbit than promised. | But, even more significantly in view of the hype that preceded it, the pupil premium has turned out to be a rather smaller white rabbit than promised. |
During the election campaign, the Liberal Democrat manifesto promised a pupil premium worth £2.5bn (the Conservative manifesto was always wary of committing to a figure). | During the election campaign, the Liberal Democrat manifesto promised a pupil premium worth £2.5bn (the Conservative manifesto was always wary of committing to a figure). |
Some experts calculated that could be worth up to £2,000 or more per pupil, depending on how it was distributed. | Some experts calculated that could be worth up to £2,000 or more per pupil, depending on how it was distributed. |
Now we learn that next year it will be just £430 per pupil - a total of £625m. | Now we learn that next year it will be just £430 per pupil - a total of £625m. |
True, this total will rise over the next few years until it reaches the promised £2.5bn a year promised in the Liberal Democrat manifesto. | True, this total will rise over the next few years until it reaches the promised £2.5bn a year promised in the Liberal Democrat manifesto. |
Phasing in | Phasing in |
But there was no mention in the manifesto of it being phased in slowly like this. | But there was no mention in the manifesto of it being phased in slowly like this. |
So, the reasonable expectation was that it would be worth the full amount from year one. But that is clearly not the case. | So, the reasonable expectation was that it would be worth the full amount from year one. But that is clearly not the case. |
Moreover, in a 2008 report he wrote for the think-tank "Policy Exchange", Sam Freedman - who is now Michael Gove's special advisor - estimated the pupil premium would require an investment of £4.6bn a year. | Moreover, in a 2008 report he wrote for the think-tank "Policy Exchange", Sam Freedman - who is now Michael Gove's special advisor - estimated the pupil premium would require an investment of £4.6bn a year. |
That bold vision has been greatly watered down. | That bold vision has been greatly watered down. |
There have been some other key changes too. The government's original intention was that the amount of the pupil premium would vary across the country. | There have been some other key changes too. The government's original intention was that the amount of the pupil premium would vary across the country. |
The idea was that in areas where per pupil funding was already high, the pupil premium would be relatively small. | The idea was that in areas where per pupil funding was already high, the pupil premium would be relatively small. |
And in areas where existing funding per pupil was relatively low (which tends to be areas outside the inner cities), the pupil premium would be relatively more generous. | And in areas where existing funding per pupil was relatively low (which tends to be areas outside the inner cities), the pupil premium would be relatively more generous. |
From poor to richer | From poor to richer |
The idea was to move towards the position where all pupils from poorer homes received roughly the same amount of money spent on them wherever they lived. | The idea was to move towards the position where all pupils from poorer homes received roughly the same amount of money spent on them wherever they lived. |
While this might have been fairer (in that a poor pupil would receive the same amount spent on them whether they lived in an affluent suburb or a poor inner city), it would also have had the effect of shifting funding from poorer areas to better-off areas. | While this might have been fairer (in that a poor pupil would receive the same amount spent on them whether they lived in an affluent suburb or a poor inner city), it would also have had the effect of shifting funding from poorer areas to better-off areas. |
Perhaps that is why the government decided not to pursue this approach - at least for now. | Perhaps that is why the government decided not to pursue this approach - at least for now. |
Those close to the education secretary say it is still the government's intention to move to a system where the pupil premium varies across the country. | Those close to the education secretary say it is still the government's intention to move to a system where the pupil premium varies across the country. |
But, for now, they are sticking to the flat rate for "simplicity". | But, for now, they are sticking to the flat rate for "simplicity". |
The government has also dodged another challenge it had set itself - namely, finding a fairer way of measuring which pupils should be eligible for the premium. | The government has also dodged another challenge it had set itself - namely, finding a fairer way of measuring which pupils should be eligible for the premium. |
The problem with the current measure - eligibility for free school meals - is that it under-estimates the number of poor children because many eligible families do not actually claim their free meals. | The problem with the current measure - eligibility for free school meals - is that it under-estimates the number of poor children because many eligible families do not actually claim their free meals. |
In a consultation document published earlier this year, the government explored the idea of finding a more sophisticated measure, such as using software packages that analyse the level of poverty in each postcode. | In a consultation document published earlier this year, the government explored the idea of finding a more sophisticated measure, such as using software packages that analyse the level of poverty in each postcode. |
Indeed, in the report cited above, Michael Gove's special advisor, Sam Freedman had also previously said the free school meals measure was "too crude" to be employed for the pupil premium. | |
In the end, though, the government has, at least for next year, abandoned the attempt to find a better measure and has again opted for "simplicity". | In the end, though, the government has, at least for next year, abandoned the attempt to find a better measure and has again opted for "simplicity". |
Meanwhile, the toughness of the spending settlement for all schools was underlined by the small print of the government's allocation announcement. | Meanwhile, the toughness of the spending settlement for all schools was underlined by the small print of the government's allocation announcement. |
Early intervention | Early intervention |
The only assurance being given to any school - in what is officially entitled "the minimum funding guarantee" - is that they will not have more than a 1.5% cash cut in their budget. | The only assurance being given to any school - in what is officially entitled "the minimum funding guarantee" - is that they will not have more than a 1.5% cash cut in their budget. |
The one thing that will save some schools from having to make even deeper cuts is the freeze on public sector pay. | The one thing that will save some schools from having to make even deeper cuts is the freeze on public sector pay. |
Meanwhile, the latest funding settlement also shows how hard it will be for local councils to fund programmes that are aimed at intervening early with children who are struggling. | Meanwhile, the latest funding settlement also shows how hard it will be for local councils to fund programmes that are aimed at intervening early with children who are struggling. |
The new so-called Early Intervention Grant is being brought in to replace spending on a whole raft of programmes from Sure Start to Connexions, from learning for two-year-olds to short breaks for disabled children. The new Early Intervention Grant will be worth almost 11% less in cash terms than the grants it is replacing. | The new so-called Early Intervention Grant is being brought in to replace spending on a whole raft of programmes from Sure Start to Connexions, from learning for two-year-olds to short breaks for disabled children. The new Early Intervention Grant will be worth almost 11% less in cash terms than the grants it is replacing. |
The government argues that these are tough financial times and they have to put right the financial mess they inherited. | The government argues that these are tough financial times and they have to put right the financial mess they inherited. |
They also point out that even a re-elected Labour government would have made public spending cuts. | They also point out that even a re-elected Labour government would have made public spending cuts. |
But the harsh reality is that the pupil premium policy - which had the potential to change school funding radically - has been hamstrung by the spending climate. | But the harsh reality is that the pupil premium policy - which had the potential to change school funding radically - has been hamstrung by the spending climate. |
And, even for schools that may benefit from the pupil premium, there are hard times ahead. | And, even for schools that may benefit from the pupil premium, there are hard times ahead. |
Mike Baker is a freelance education journalist and broadcaster | Mike Baker is a freelance education journalist and broadcaster |
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