At The Island Free School we believe that every one of our pupils is capable of achieving excellent academic outcomes. Central to our philosophy is the removal of any and all barriers to learning. As a small secondary school we have the ability to ensure that all pupils are well known by all staff and can therefore ensure that the individual needs of all pupils are fully met.

We welcome the pupil premium as a further resource to ensure that there is no disparity of opportunity within our community. We want every child to flourish and are committed to meeting this aspiration regardless of the challenge.

Research suggests that young people growing up in more deprived communities experience less access to language and literacy-rich activities at home and in the community. They are also more likely to have emotional, social and behavioural difficulties. Some are more likely to experience physical hardship and neglect.

In deciding how best to support pupils we have drawn upon the following sources:
– Sutton Trust report “School funding and Pupil Premium 2019” available here.
– Education Endowment Foundation Teaching and Learning Toolkit Available here.
– Internal research led by Mr J. Green on the impact of low reading age and deprivation on GCSE outcomes available here.