Pupil Premium

All staff and students at John Colet School believe that through hard work, inspiration, mutual respect and enjoyment, we will achieve success together. We are committed to the principle that every student fulfils their potential.

The Government introduced the Pupil Premium into main school funding for disadvantaged students to address inequalities between children eligible for Targeted category of free school meals (FSM),  looked after children or children of armed forces families and their peers. It is our job to ensure that funding reaches the pupils who need it most.

We aim to do this in a number of ways and these strategies are evaluated frequently and reviewed based on their impact.

Free School Meals

At the end of the Summer Term of 2026 the transitional protections applied to Free School Meal eligibility since 2018 have been closed by the DfE as the transfer to Universal Credit from other benefits has completed, and from September 2026 new criteria will apply.  As a result all parents are required to re-apply before the start of the Autumn Term  in order for Free School Meal eligibility to continue.  Going forward eligibility will be rechecked and the claims revalidated every year.

Going forward there will be two categories of eligibility, Targeted and Expanded.

Eligibility Criteria - Targeted Category

Parents in receipt of the following benefits will be entitled to Free School Meals for their children under the Targeted Category:

• Universal Credit and the household income is below £7,400 per year as assessed by HMRC

• Support under Part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• Income Based Employment and Support Allowance 

• Guaranteed Element of the State Pension Credit

• Families eligible under the No Recourse to Public Funds criteria (NRPF)

Children eligible through the Targeted category will be entitled to Free School Meals, be included in fudning provided to schools for the Deprivation Pupil Premium and will be eligible for Holiday Access Fund vouchers.  This may also help with eligibility for Free School Transport.

Eligibility Criteria - Expanded Category

Parents in receipt of the following benefits will be entitled to Free School Meals only under the Expanded category. No other additional support is available through this category of eligibility - 

• Universal Credit and the household income is above £7400 per year as assessed by HMRC

If you believe you are eligible for Free School Meals in either category based on the criteria above, it is important to apply for Free School Meals through your child’s school. If you are eligible, this will allow:

• the school to claim the Deprivation Pupil Premium funding from the Department of Education if applicable

• you to receive Holiday Access Fund vouchers if applicable

• you to potentially claim extra support such as help with home to school transport

• your child to receive free school meals

Apply for Free School Meals

If you believe that you are eligible for Free School Meals, please complete this application form.

If you have children at different schools, you will need to contact each school individually to apply for Free School Meals for each child.