AN EXTRA 3,600 school pupils in Brent will benefit from a £500 per pupil premium.
The financial boost is being provided by central government for local youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds.
But Brent Central MP Sarah Teather has this week announced that the scheme will now be extended to cover any child that has been registered for free school meals in the past six years.
In Brent, this means about 3,600 extra pupils will benefit from the boost.
The sum of £2,316,000 has been secured for the borough of Brent, and across the country more than half a million additional children will now qualify for the Pupil Premium.
Ms Teather said: “I am delighted that even in these tough economic times, the government will be extending the Pupil Premium to another 3,600 pupils in Brent, and increasing the money that schools get to £600 per pupil.
“This money will directly benefit the most disadvantaged pupils in Brent. Individual schools are best placed to decide how to spend the extra funding to support their pupils. This could be through investing in better IT resources, providing extra tuition, or a whole host of options that will help to raise attainment.”
