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Elms School

Year 7 Catch Up Funding

Impact

At Elms School, we use the Y7 catch-up funding towards the cost of providing a laptop for each pupil, to be used while they are attending the school. 

The use of a laptop helps to prepare our pupils for the future technology driven world of college and work. It helps to teach them safe, respectful use of hardware and appropriate use of software and the world wide web.  Due to their financial disadvantage, few of our pupils have access to their own IT equipment at home and we feel it is important that they have access to their own equipment to use at school.  All adults need to develop IT skills in order to meet the demands of the modern workplace and to meet their personal needs. 

 Many of our pupils have difficulties with literacy and writing is something they find particularly difficult.  Providing a laptop means that they can write without being hampered by their difficulties with handwriting, with spell checkers available within word processing programmes.   Pupils are able to produce more writing than if it is handwritten, thus enabling better progress.  Using laptops enhances their learning experienced by having access to the Internet for research, other educational programmes. 

Although progress in maths is still higher than progress in English, the majority of pupils are making good progress in both maths and English.  it is impossible to quantify how much of this progress is due to access to a laptop, but the figures as at March 2020 for the current Years 8 – 11 are:

 

Maths

English

On track to reach or exceeding target

77%

68%

Within range of (1 point below) target

15%

8%

Below target

8%

24%

 

 

Financial Year

2016 - 2017

Funds B/F   £8956
2016/17 £6667
Total Available   £15623
Year 7 spend in the year £14369
Year 7 Rollover £1254

The £14369 has been spent on laptops, laptop trolleys and the associated licenses and equipment.          

2017 - 2018

Funds B/F £1254
2017/18 £7556
Total Available £8810
Year 7 spend in the year £5726
Year 7 Rollover

£3084

2018 - 2019

Funds B/F £3084

2018/19

£7556
Total Available £10640
Year 7 spend in the year £0
Year 7 Rollover £10640

2019 - 2020

Funds B/F £10640
2019/20  £7556
Total  Available £18196
Year 7 spend in the year £18850
Additional Funds provided by the school

£654

2020 - 2021

Funds B/F £0
2020/21 £8845
Total  Available £8845
Year 7 spend in the year £16995
Additional Funds provided by the school £8150