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| Ofsted warns poor pupils losing out on 'premium' funds | Ofsted warns poor pupils losing out on 'premium' funds |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw says a flagship policy to target extra funding at poor pupils in England is having little impact on many schools. | |
| A snapshot survey of 117 schools in poor areas suggests the extra £600 per poor pupil a year made little or no difference to support for them. | |
| Sir Michael said it was a "real worry" if cash was being diverted for "tarmacking playgrounds". | |
| Schools minister David Laws said schools would be held accountable. | |
| The pupil premium is a key coalition policy, initiated by the Lib Dems. | The pupil premium is a key coalition policy, initiated by the Lib Dems. |
| Under the scheme, schools in disadvantaged areas in England are allotted £600 per head to help give extra support to poorer children. | Under the scheme, schools in disadvantaged areas in England are allotted £600 per head to help give extra support to poorer children. |
| The Ofsted report, which surveyed and inspected nearly 300 schools, found that half the schools thought the pupil premium was having a positive impact on raising achievement, but few could provide evidence to back this up. | The Ofsted report, which surveyed and inspected nearly 300 schools, found that half the schools thought the pupil premium was having a positive impact on raising achievement, but few could provide evidence to back this up. |
| Speaking about the results of the snapshopt survey on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Sir Michael said: "We found that over 50% said that it was having either little or no impact on the way they organise and manage their schools in relation to the use of money on poor children. | |
| "We find that surprising - this is a large chunk of public money." | "We find that surprising - this is a large chunk of public money." |
| Mr Laws said the government would not wish to "micro-manage" schools. | Mr Laws said the government would not wish to "micro-manage" schools. |
| But he added: "Critically, while we're giving those schools freedom to use the money as they think best, we are also putting in place an accountability mechanism which will ensure that they use the money in the right way." | But he added: "Critically, while we're giving those schools freedom to use the money as they think best, we are also putting in place an accountability mechanism which will ensure that they use the money in the right way." |
| He said this meant that during visits to schools, Ofsted inspectors would "look at whether the schools are closing the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils". | He said this meant that during visits to schools, Ofsted inspectors would "look at whether the schools are closing the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils". |
| Then inspectors would "look at the ways they are using the money" and be "critical" where this was not effective. | Then inspectors would "look at the ways they are using the money" and be "critical" where this was not effective. |
| The report comes as other Liberal Democrat policies come under scrutiny, with leader Nick Clegg and Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable apologising for breaking their party's pledge to oppose increasing student tuition fees. | The report comes as other Liberal Democrat policies come under scrutiny, with leader Nick Clegg and Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable apologising for breaking their party's pledge to oppose increasing student tuition fees. |