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Member of Parliament for Bradford East@DavidWardMP on Twitter and Facebook |
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David Ward MP <>
More Pupil Premium Money for Bradford Schools
December 12, 2011 6:36 PM
David Ward MP has welcomed the news that the pupil premium has been extended to 26,940 children in Bradford, meaning that our schools are set to benefit from an extra £16.2 million to support disadvantaged pupils.
The Pupil Premium will be expanding its reach to cover any child that has been registered for Free School Meals (FSM) in the past six years. This will increase the number of pupils in Bradford eligible for the Pupil Premium by 45 per cent.
For 2012-13, the Premium will be worth £1.25 billion in total. Bradford's most disadvantaged pupils, including looked after children, are set to benefit from £600 each after the Department for Education announced next year's Pupil Premium will increase by £112 for each pupil.
Commenting, David Ward MP for Bradford East said:
"This is great news for Bradford schools and for our young people.
"Income is the biggest predictor of educational achievement in Bradford. Just 0.5 per cent of free school meal pupils get three As at A-level, compared with over 30 per cent in private schools.
"In a fair system all children should have a chance at succeeding at school and the pupil premium will help make that happen. The pupil premium gives schools extra money to provide the support that children from less well off backgrounds need to succeed.
"In time I'm sure the pupil premium will transform our education system."
Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Children's Minister, Sarah Teather said:
"As we come to the end of the second term of the Pupil Premium we are seeing across the country how these extra funds are making a difference. Additional tuition, better IT resources and closer work with parents are all examples of how the Pupil Premium is being used to support the most disadvantaged pupils.
"That's why I'm so pleased that, next year, we'll be extending the Pupil Premium to another half a million children, and increasing the money that schools get to £600 per pupil. This means that, as a result of Liberal Democrats in government, more children will get a better start in life".