Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) was introduced as part of the Scottish Attainment Challenge programme in 2017/18. It is additional funding allocated to schools and targeted at closing the poverty-related attainment gap. In light of the disruption caused by Covid-19, in 2021/22 schools received an additional uplift to their PEF, known as Pupil Equity Fund premium to support education recovery efforts for children and young people impacted by poverty.

Between November 2021 and January 2022, attainment advisors met with local authority officers and with headteachers or nominated staff from schools across each of the 32 local authorities to discuss their approaches to PEF. These discussions were structured around a series of key questions to explore how the use of PEF was supported, implemented and monitored.

As we move into this next phase of the Scottish Attainment Challenge, this publication provides some reflection on current practice and how schools and local authorities might build on this as they further develop their approaches to PEF.

How to use this resource

This publication is intended to support school leaders and local authority staff as they further develop and refine their approaches to Pupil Equity Funding (PEF). Each section reflects on a different aspect of PEF practice and provides examples of approaches being employed across the country. It is hoped this sharing of current practice will help staff involved in the planning, implementation and monitoring of PEF to reflect and build on their current practice as we enter the next phase of the Scottish Attainment Challenge ensuring every child and young person has the same opportunity to succeed in education.

Improvement questions

How will you build on current practice to:

• Ensure clear identification of the poverty-related attainment gaps in your authority/school and measure the impact of your work to address them?
• Maximise funding effectively to deliver the most appropriate approaches for children and young people impacted by poverty?
• Engage and work with partners to ensure added value from PEF and further develop approaches to closing the poverty-related attainment gap?
• Ensure children, young people and their families can become more involved in decision making and evaluating the impact of PEF?

Download(s)

PDF file: Pupil Equity Funding: Looking inwards, outwards, forwards (8.7 MB)

PDF file: Maoineachadh Cothromas nan Sgoilearan: A’ coimhead a-steach, a-mach, air adhart (3.8MB)