To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will hold discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on extending the pupil premium to young people aged between 16 and 19 in further education who are (a) looked after children, (b) pupils who have left care, (c) pupils who have been eligible for the pupil premium at any point in the previous six years and (d) other pupils who were eligible for pupil premium whilst in secondary education; and if she will make a statement.
Answered on
13 July 2015
There are no plans to extend the Pupil Premium to young people aged 16 to 19 who are in further education. All decisions on school and post-16 funding beyond the financial year 2015-16 will be made as part of the forthcoming spending review.
The Government understands the importance of supporting disadvantaged young people over the age of 16 who are in education. As with core funding for schools, there are elements within the national funding formula for 16-19 year olds that provide extra funding for disadvantaged students. Post-16 students living in the most deprived areas of the country attracted over £210 million of additional funding within the 16-19 funding formula in the academic year 2015/16.
In addition, students who struggled with maths and English at GCSE attracted over £350 million of additional funding within the formula. Schools and colleges decide how they spend this funding to deliver the support most needed by disadvantaged 16-19 year-old students.
Young people aged 16 to19 who are studying in school or college and are also in local authority care or have recently left care are entitled to the 16-19 Student Bursary, which is worth up to £1,200 yearly.