Pupil Premium

Barriers to Educational Achievement in the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham

Barking and Dagenham is the 22nd most deprived authority in England and many families in the borough are either on low incomes, where full-time salaries are lower than any other authority in London, or they are dependent on benefits. More than a fifth of working age residents in the borough claim at least one type of benefit, compared to the national average of one in seven. Those claiming universal credit whilst in employment is the 3rd highest in the country. Almost a third of households rent through either a housing association or the Council and house prices and average rent levels remain the lowest in London.   Barking & Dagenham has the 5th highest rate of unemployment anywhere in the country and the highest domestic abuse rate per 1000 population in London. Our ward, Mayesbrook, has the highest number of families living in deprived households (64.1%) compared to the borough average of 62.4%. Barking & Dagenham has highest proportion of children aged under 16 in England & Wales and the highest percentage of deprived households in England & Wales  

The borough has higher proportions of 3 people to 8+ people households compared to London and England (over-crowding). 10.7% of people in the borough have no qualifications, this is the highest in London. LBBD reports recent rises in youth violence, rises in mental health needs for adults and children and increases in the use of synthetic drugs. 

The Use of the Pupil Premium Grant at Dorothy Barley Junior Academy

Dorothy Barley Junior Academy is larger than the average-sized primary school in Dagenham. According to the October 24 census 44% of pupils have English as a first language.  There are 35 languages other than English spoken by the children at the school. The largest language group is English, 42%, followed by Bengali 9%, Urdu 8%, Romanian 8%. The school has a 12 place Additional Resource Provision called the Learning Centre which serves Moderate & Severe Learning Difficulties. 21% of children in our school have Special Educational Needs. SEMH, MLD and SLCN are the main areas of need. The school has seen an increase in the % of SEND children over the last four years (historically usually around 10% of the school population). 12 children have an EHCP in place with 4 pending. The school has also seen an increase in overall mobility in the last four years and deprivation remains high.  

We are a four-form entry school catering for Key Stage 2 children. According to the October 2024 census 36% of primary pupils are eligible for the Pupil Premium Grant.

We have high aspirations and ambitions for our children and we are determined to ensure that all our children are given every chance to realise their full potential.

Background to Pupil Premium Funding

The pupil premium is a government initiative that targets extra money at pupils from deprived backgrounds. Research shows that pupils from deprived backgrounds underachieve compared to their non-deprived peers. The premium is provided to enable these pupils to be supported to reach their potential. The Government has used pupils entitled to free school meals (FSM), looked after children and service children as indicators of deprivation, and have provided a fixed amount of money for schools per pupil based on the number of pupils registered for FSM over a rolling six year period. This fixed amount of money is expected to increase every year for the course of this current Parliament. At Dorothy Barley Junior Academy we will be using the indicator of those eligible for FSM as well as identified vulnerable groups as our target children to ‘close the gap’ regarding attainment.

Our Approach to Pupil Premium

The money has been ring-fenced and will be used to benefit all Pupil Premium pupils. We have established clear lines of responsibility with a member of the senior leadership team and a link governor taking responsibility for Pupil Premium. We do this by:

  • Providing short term intervention programmes for underachieving pupils and those with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities).
  • Providing additional academic support for pupils in Year 6.
  • Providing  our own ‘School- Led’ Tutoring and bespoke intervention
  • Providing new resources that will support learning and teaching in and out of the classroom.
  • Providing consistent PWO support
  • Providing part time Therapeutic Counselling support for pupils.
  • Providing online learning materials for Reading and Mathematics (available 24/7) from outside the school network.
  • Making sure that all children have full access to a daily diet of at least good teaching.
  • Ensuring adults are deployed effectively to support those children most ‘in need’.
  • Providing relevant CPD in a carefully planned INSET schedule
  • Developing strategies to target poor attendance and encourage at least good attendance.

All staff are aware of areas for development in the school in terms of subjects, year groups and they know which children are focus children.

Money is used to benefit all Pupil Premium children and supports higher as well as lower achieving children by extending the provision on offer.

We have rigorous assessment and monitoring systems to support improvement in the quality of teaching and interventions in order to maximise impact. Our team leader system enables us to be more responsive and frequent support such as team teaching, planning, one to one training and CPD.

Pupil Premium Funding : Who qualifies?

Please see the attached information below about who can apply and what the school gives to successful applicants. If you think you qualify the school office can help you with the forms or you can complete one online at the following web address:

www.lbbd.gov.uk/financial-support-for-pupils-and-students

PDF Downloads

DBJA PPG Report Reviewed Current 2024-2025

The above includes the 2023-2024 Pupil Premium review.

Web Links

Articles and advice for children and young people from Department for Education.

www.gov.uk/topic/schools-colleges-childrens-services/support-for-children-young-people