Pupil Premium & FSM
What is pupil premium?
Pupil Premium is additional funding provided to schools to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged students. The College decides how this funding is used, based on the needs of eligible students and the barriers to learning they may experience.
Pupil Premium funding may be provided for:
- students who currently qualify, or have qualified during the previous six years, for Targeted Free School Meals
- children who are looked after by a local authority
- children who have previously been looked after and subsequently left care through adoption, a special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
- eligible children of service personnel
From September 2026, the “Ever 6” measure used for Pupil Premium is linked to Targeted Free School Meals, rather than the new Expanded Free School Meals category.
The College’s current Pupil Premium Strategy Statement, explaining how the funding is used and its intended impact, can be downloaded below.
Free School Meals
Receiving Free School Meals can support a student’s health, wellbeing and concentration. The College uses a cashless catering system, so a student’s entitlement remains confidential.
An allowance is added to the student’s catering account each school day. It may be used at break or lunchtime. Any unused allowance cannot be carried over to another day. Parents and carers may add money to the account if their child wishes to spend more than the daily allowance.
Eligibility for free school meals
From September 2026, your child may qualify for free school meals if you receive any of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- The guarantee element of Pension Credit
Children who receive these benefits themselves, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also qualify for free school meals.
Your child may also qualify if you are an asylum seeker.
Children who are younger than the compulsory age for starting school but in full-time education can also get free school meals.
Important changes from September 2026
From September 2026, there will be changes to who can and cannot receive Free School Meals (FSM).
End of transitional protection
Temporary protections that allowed children to continue to receive free school meals without rechecking eligibility will stop at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
From September 2026, all families will need to meet the current eligibility rules to continue receiving free school meals.
Two types of benefit-based free school meals to be introduced
- Targeted Free School Meals - your child may qualify if your household receives Universal Credit and has an annual household income of £7,400 or less (after tax, not including benefits).
- Expanded Free School Meals - Your child may qualify if your household receives Universal Credit.
If you are currently receiving FSMs, you do not need to take any action at this stage. Your school will check your eligibility and confirm if you will continue to qualify from September 2026.
Free school meals in the holidays
You may also be eligible for free school meals during the holidays. Read more about this scheme.
APPLY ONLINE FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS
Apply online for Free School Meals here: Online FSM Application
more information
Please contact our Pupil Premium Coordinator, who oversees the school’s PP strategy using email pupilpremium@st-ambrosecollege.org.uk.