Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 23 May 2016 to Question 37377, whether she has seen the report commissioned by Audenshaw School as part of an Ofsted requirement into the use of pupil premium money at that school; and if she will make a statement.

The conditions of grant for the pupil premium make clear that its purpose is to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils. School leaders are best placed to decide how to spend the pupil premium in line with this policy and the needs of their pupils.

It is for schools to commission pupil premium reviews and act upon the recommendations. The recommendations should inform their development of an improved strategy for raising the achievement of disadvantaged pupils and spending their pupil premium funding.

The Department has not seen the pupil premium report which Ofsted asked the school to commission. However, having reviewed the Ofsted report, and information from the school’s auditors, we have not identified any grounds for further action.

The Hon. Member, Andrew Gwynne, has met the Regional Schools Commissioner for Lancashire and West Yorkshire, Vicky Beer, on a number of occasions to discuss his concerns about Audenshaw School Academy Trust and contact is ongoing.