Three-quarters of English schools highlight poor attendance and low reading levels as key hurdles for disadvantaged students, says EEF analysis

New research by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) reveals that 75% of schools in England identify poor attendance, and 74% mention low reading proficiency, as the primary challenges affecting the academic success of their socio-economically disadvantaged students, prompting the EEF to provide resources to help schools optimize their use of Pupil Premium funding.

Analysis of a representative sample of 300 schools’ Pupil Premium strategy statements found that 75% cited attendance and 74% mentioned reading as the main barriers to attainment for their pupils eligible for Pupil Premium funding.

Supporting schools to tackle the factors hindering socio-economically disadvantaged pupils’ progress has never been more important. The gap in attainment between disadvantaged pupils and their classmates remains stubbornly wide, and more families are falling below the poverty line as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. Just over 2.2 million pupils were eligible for Pupil Premium funding in January 2023, an increase of around 2% on the previous year.

The analysis also found that an overwhelming majority of schools are using education evidence to identify the best ways of supporting disadvantaged pupils in their school communities. Almost 9 out of 10 (88%) of the statements analysed referred to using EEF resources to guide their Pupil Premium spend, with greater take-up in schools with higher proportions of eligible pupils.

To further support schools, the EEF has published a suite of resources to help maximise the impact of Pupil Premium spending.

The EEF Guide to the Pupil Premium is a comprehensive resource for school leaders looking to maximise the impact of their spending. It provides step-by-step, time-saving advice on how to develop and implement an effective Pupil Premium strategy.

The guide recommends a tiered approach, where schools focus their Pupil Premium resources on three areas:

• High-quality teaching, including approaches to support recruitment and retention,
• Targeted academic support, such as small group or one-to-one tuition,
• Wider strategies, including support for attendance and behaviour.

The resources include accessible guidance on using evidence to inform planning; quick links to high-quality research findings; and advice for governors on how to champion purposeful Pupil Premium spending in their context. They also bust common myths about the Pupil Premium.

Professor Becky Francis CBE, Chief Executive of the Education Endowment Foundation, said:

“Education inequality in England is entrenched, and there is a stubborn link between socio-economic background and education outcomes.

“The Pupil Premium is one of the most important tools we have to address this. But getting the most out of this funding requires careful consideration and planning.

“We hope these resources can support school leaders in taking a structured, evidence-informed approach – and that they help to improve outcomes for those children who need it most.”