Pupil Premium is the title allocated to extra funding the government has set aside to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Government believes that Pupil Premium (which is additional to main school funding and based on the percentage of students receiving free school meals  as well as those who are currently being looked after by social services) is the best way to address current inequalities of opportunity. It is believed that by ensuring money reaches the students who need it most to allow the best chance of narrowing the gap between the achievement of students from advantaged and disadvantage backgrounds.

It has been for schools to decide how the Pupil Premium is spent since they are best placed to assess what additional provision should be made for the individual pupils within their responsibility.

From September 2012, schools are also required to publish online information about how the premium has been used.