Pupil Premium 2027: Closing the Attainment Gap for Disadvantaged Students
Strategic Partner
In 2026, schools across England continue to face mounting pressure to demonstrate the impact of Pupil Premium funding amid growing disadvantage and rising pupil need. Spending Pupil Premium strategically and sustainably is key to ensure maximum success in decreasing the attainment gap.
At The National Pupil Premium Conference, experts will share strategies for effectively using this funding, including case studies on monitoring, curriculum integration, and attendance improvement. Attendees can network with education professionals to discuss challenges and successful approaches for supporting disadvantaged students.
Overview
Best Practices for Targeted Interventions and Evidence-Based Decision Making
This financial year, schools across England will receive increased funding to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of background. With the requirement for schools to update their Pupil Premium strategy statement once a year, close scrutiny is paid to how funding is being spent, and the impact of investment of narrowing the attainment gap for disadvantaged pupils.
But what initiatives and interventions are working? And how should schools make evidence-based decisions that focus on enhancing pupil outcomes? As the number of pupils eligible for premium funding continues to grow, ensuring that initiatives and spend are tailored to the specific needs of the pupil is crucial to close the gap.
Join us at The National Pupil Premium Conference to:
– Explore the latest guidance and strategies for maximising the impact of Pupil Premium funding.
– Discover best practice case studies covering key issues such as effective monitoring and evaluation, integrating holistic approaches into the curriculum, and improving attendance of pupil premium students.
– Take advantage of the opportunity to network with senior education professionals, share challenges, and discuss successful approaches to engaging disadvantaged pupils and driving meaningful outcomes.
What’s Included
Value for money
Keynotes
Learn how to use Pupil Premium funding to improve outcomes and address challenges for disadvantaged pupils.
Case Studies
Explore strategies from case studies on Pupil Premium interventions, boosting attendance, and supporting disadvantaged pupils.
Network
Connect online with your peers throughout the day, share experiences, discuss ideas, and celebrate successes.
CPD
Gain 8 hours of CPD points towards your target and continue your own professional development in just one day.
Don’t miss out
Why You Should Attend
Agenda
2026 Programme
Professor Nadia Siddiqui, School of Education, Durham University (CONFIRMED)
- Exploring the latest national data on educational disadvantage, including trends across regions and pupil groups
- Reviewing robust evidence on what works best for disadvantaged pupils, including high-quality teaching, targeted academic support and wider strategies
- Discussing how to avoid compliance-driven approaches and instead embed Pupil Premium within coherent school improvement planning.
- Setting out long term priorities and focusing on long-term impact, equity and improved life chances for disadvantaged pupils
Charlotte O’Regan, Senior Schools Engagement Manager, The Sutton Trust
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Reality before rhetoric – understanding disadvantage through lived experience, not written intent
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From data points to lived stories – using data to reveal patterns and need, not just outcomes
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From individual ownership to collective responsibility – making disadvantage a shared leadership and professional priority
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From policy to practice in the classroom – focusing impact where high‑quality teaching makes the difference
- The current landscape – closing the reading gap and why reading matters as the gateway to the whole curriculum.
- Discover how Reading Plus supports children eligible for pupil premium to make measurable, sustained progress in reading through a personalised, adaptive approach.
- Review school-based evidence showing improvements in reading comprehension, fluency and vocabulary, enabling pupils to access greater curriculum depth and challenge.
- Explore how embedding Reading Plus within a whole-school literacy strategy supports consistency, engagement and impact for all learners.
- Consider how providing pupils with appropriately pitched challenge and targeted support builds confidence, resilience and independence, helping pupils achieve their full potential.
Nick Mills, Reading Development Consultant, Daisy Education
- Knowing your pupils and their families well
- Poverty proofing the school experience for all
- Developing an evidence-informed, dynamic strategy with effective implementation practices
Jane Elsworth, Director and Deputy Headteacher, Huntington Research School
Stacey McCabe, Deputy Headteacher, Surrey Virtual School
An opportunity to discuss what steps can be taken to support the non-academic development of disadvantaged students in the school setting.
- An experienced leadership coach will share a blueprint and questions to help your team create a highly effective, cross-remit Pupil Premium strategy.
The model will help you to:- Build on what you already know and what you learn from other speakers in today’s conference
- Analyse strategies, assess risks, and apply a cost-benefit analysis
- Select the best strategies to include in your Pupil Premium Strategy and your School Development Plan.
Jonathan Ferstenberg, School Improvement Partner and Leadership Coach, Bespoke School and Leadership Development
- Aligning CPD with Pupil Premium priorities to create a workforce that centres inclusion in everything they do
- Creating clear ownership and accountability so all staff understand their role in supporting disadvantaged pupils, not just designated leads
- Strategies for building staff confidence in adaptive teaching
- Sustaining improvement in high-turnover environments
Jenn Sills, Deputy Director, Gloucestershire Research School
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Why many Pupil Premium strategies fail at classroom level
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Building literacy and disciplinary writing across KS3 and KS4
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Embedding curriculum and assessment alignment from Year 7 onwards
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Developing a whole-department model that improved outcomes from 35% to 64% Grade 4+
Daniel Bull-Mittens, ECT Mentor and Head of History, United Learning
- Where we started: the challenges, assumptions and gaps in our original approach
- What changed: the key shifts in thinking, spend and systems that made the difference
- What it looks like now: real pupil examples
- Where we’re heading: belonging is at the heart of decision making
Rahila Naguthney, Assistant Headteacher (Behaviour & Attendance), Deputy DSL, Queen Mary’s Grammar School
Nicola Youngman, Assistant Headteacher, SENDCo and Pupil Premium Lead, Queen Mary’s Grammar School
Professor Nadia Siddiqui, School of Education, Durham University (CONFIRMED)
2026 Speakers Included
What previous delegates say
Testimonials
Fantastic experience. It is a great way to upskill or review PP knowledge and understanding and review own practice. Easy links to current research and resources all in one place.
Assistant Principal
Joseph Leckie Academy
Really useful pupil premium tools and strategies were shared, which I will now develop and take forward into my own setting.
Assistant Headteacher
St Philomena’s Catholic high school for Girls
What a great event with inspirational speakers who are practicing professionals in education! Being able to relate to real experiences and how they have overcome barriers within their own settings really gives you food for thought and a way to truly reflect on your own practice. This was a really useful conference.
Head Teacher
Grange Primary School
Really enjoyed hearing from the experts in this field.
Assistant Headteacher, Disadvantaged pupils lead
Robert May’s School
‘A superbly informative event with quality talks and lots of ‘take away’ points for action.’
Deputy Headteacher
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls
Book Now
Secure Your Place Today
PUBLIC SECTOr
£395
For public sector employees only. Please use your work email for verification.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
£355
For employees of charities, social enterprises, and voluntary organisations only. Please use your work email for verification.
PRIVATE SECTOR
£520
Private sector places are strictly limited and available on a first come, first serve basis.
