Disadvantaged Pupil
A DfE classification covering pupils eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years and those looked after by the local authority.
Disadvantaged pupil is a Department for Education classification that flags pupils for whom the school receives extra funding (the Pupil Premium).
A pupil counts as disadvantaged if they:
- Are eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the last 6 years (this is sometimes labelled "FSM6" or "ever-6 FSM"), or
- Have been looked after by the local authority continuously for at least one day, or
- Have been adopted from care, or are subject to a Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangements Order.
Disadvantaged-pupil performance is a critical lens for judging school quality. National data consistently shows a gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers; schools that close that gap are doing exceptional work.
When reading league tables, look for the disadvantaged-pupil progress score alongside the headline. A school where disadvantaged pupils make similar progress to non-disadvantaged peers is a school worth taking seriously, even if the headline figure is unspectacular.
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