Pupil premium ‘may not benefit schoolchildren’
Schools teaching literacy could face a split in opinion over whether the government's pupil premium proposal will actually benefit those they teach, according to one expert.
The Campaign for Real Education (CRE), which aims to press for higher standards and more parental choice in state education, has voiced concern that the introduction of the premiums are a step too far and will not do much to better the education of children.
Nick Seaton, chairman of the CRE, said: "There are already reports that headteachers are encouraging their students to register for free school meals even if they don't eat them."
He added it would be better to ensure that students who are struggling get the help to gain good qualifications rather than giving the schools extra money to spend how they like.
Children's minister Sarah Teather recently stated that the pupil premium was put in place to benefit poorer schoolchildren and that the figures for attainment for those having free meals are "inadequate".
