Pupil Premium Strategy & Impact Review
Every school with Pupil Premium funding is required to publish a strategy statement — but there's a meaningful difference between a document that lists what money was spent on, and one that shows it's actually working. National data tells a sobering story: in 2024/25, only 25.8% of disadvantaged pupils achieved grade 5+ in English & Maths, against 53.1% of their peers. That gap has barely moved in years, despite sustained investment. Spending well isn't the same as spending effectively — and increasingly, DfE guidance and Ofsted expect schools to be able to tell the difference.This service takes a close, honest look at your current Pupil Premium strategy and asks the questions that matter most: Is each intervention grounded in solid evidence — ideally informed by the EEF's guidance on what actually moves outcomes for disadvantaged pupils? Is spending genuinely proportionate to need, rather than spread thinly across too many initiatives to properly evaluate any of them? And critically — is there a clear, credible account of what has actually changed for pupils as a result, not just what was purchased or delivered?Where the evidence base behind an intervention is thin, we work together to strengthen it — identifying what data would demonstrate impact, and how to start capturing it. Where a strategy statement reads as a compliance exercise rather than a genuine plan, we rework it into something leaders can speak to naturally and confidently, whether that's in front of governors, at a trust board meeting, or in conversation with an inspector who asks a pointed follow-up question.This isn't a generic audit. It draws on direct experience running Pupil Premium strategy at School Improvement Lead level within a multi-academy trust, combined with a research background in evaluation methodology — so recommendations are both grounded in what genuinely works and realistic about what a school can actually deliver with its existing staff and budget
What's involved:
A structured review of your current Pupil Premium strategy statement and supporting evidenceAssessment of each intervention against best-available evidence (EEF-informed where relevant)A review of whether spending is proportionate and appropriately prioritisedSupport building or strengthening the evidence base behind weaker interventionsA reworked strategy statement leaders can present with genuine confidence
What you'll walk away with: a strengthened Pupil Premium strategy statement, a clearer and more defensible evidence base behind your key interventions, and leaders equipped to talk about impact — not just spend — with real confidence, unscripted, whenever it's asked of them.