The Pupil Premium Grant was introduced by the Government in April 2011 to provide additional support for looked after children, children of the armed forces and those from low income families. The extra funding has been made available to schools and academies to help them eliminate the gap in performance (attainment and progress) and in securing positive progression routes after 16/18 years old. 

The Government has asked Ofsted to investigate how effectively schools were using the additional funding during their visits to schools and academies. Further details about the Pupil Premium Grant can be found on the Department for Education website.

The Pupil Premium strategy at Sir Thomas Wharton Academy has been shaped with the aim to improve student progress and to 'close the gap' between the progress that disadvantaged students make in school compared with their non-disadvantaged peers nationally.