Education recovery funding doubles for secondary schools

Funding for the government’s education recovery programme is to double for secondary schools next year, supporting pupils to catch up on lost learning caused by the pandemic.

The £1 billion Recovery Premium, shared between schools, is helping pupils get back on track by funding evidence-based activities from additional tutoring, to extra time in school, or speech and language therapy.

The funding will enable schools to provide further support for pupils above and beyond that already provided by the vital National Tutoring Programme.

Indicative rates for schools show a typical secondary school will receive over £60,000 next year - up from around £30,000 this year. A typical primary school will receive almost £7,000 - a further increase from last year.

Schools Minister, Robin Walker, said: "The doubling of the Recovery Premium for secondaries will further bolster the support schools are able to offer for pupils who need it, helping each and every young person – wherever they live – get back on track and stay on track. I encourage schools to make full use of all on offer to support children in catching up."

The £1 billion Recovery Premium means secondary schools will receive £276 per eligible pupil, with primary schools receiving £145 per eligible pupil. Pupils in special units in these schools will attract double the funding rate.

Special schools and alternative provision will receive £290 per primary pupil and £552 per secondary pupil.

This extra support in secondary reflects evidence showing the greater gaps in older pupils’ learning and lower amount of time those pupils have left in education, while primary pupils have already recovered around two thirds of progress lost due to the pandemic in reading, and around half of progress lost in maths.

The National Tutoring Programme is being simplified ahead of next year, with all funding to be provided directly to schools – reflecting the success the school-led tutoring route this year.