Liberal Democrat County Councillor Mark Jewell is encouraging school governors to question the way Pupil Premium is spent.

Ofstead reports surveyed how schools were using the Pupil Premium since its introduction in April 2011.

County Councillor Mark Jewell commented, “The findings reported by ofsted were very much along the lines we have found within schools across the West and North West of Preston.”

The key findings highlighted that the funding from the pupil premium was commonly used to maintain or enhance existing provision rather than to put in new initiatives. It also highlighted that there was little evidence of a strong focus on the pupil premium by governors.

The single most common use of the pupil premium was to continue to employ teaching assistants. Other activities funded by schools included one-to-one tuition, additional curriculum opportunities or for uniform and equipment.

However, a report by the Sutton trust has suggested that the money is not always being spent in the most effective ways. Studies have shown that encouraging more effective feedback to pupils on specific activities offers a very high impact for low cost. Other strategies are also proposed to encourage learning, such as peer assisted learning.

Councillor Jewell added, “There is a role for school governors to ensure pupil premium funding is not simply absorbed into mainstream budgets, but is instead spent in ways known to be most effective.”

The pupil premium was introduced in April 2011 at £488 per pupil for pupils eligible for free school meals. This has been increased to £600 per pupil in 2012-13 and is set to double over the next two years. The objectives of the pupil premium is to raise achievement among disadvantaged children.