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Pupil premium priority and the 11+

The short answer

Some grammar schools give priority to children eligible for the pupil premium, which is extra school funding for children who get, or have recently had, free school meals, and for children who are or were in care. Some schools also keep a few places for eligible children who score a little below the usual pass mark. Rules differ by school, and you often have to send evidence to each school yourself, by a deadline.

What to do next

  1. Step 1: Check whether your child is eligible

    This usually means children who get, or have recently had, free school meals, and children who are or were in care.

  2. Step 2: Read each school’s pupil premium rules

    Rules differ by school. Some keep a few places for eligible children.

  3. Step 3: Send your evidence to each school

    You often have to send it yourself, by each school’s own deadline.

What is the pupil premium?

The pupil premium is extra money paid to schools to support disadvantaged children. It is allocated for:

  • children recorded for free school meals now or in the past 6 yearsPupil premium: free school meals now or in the last six yearsChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: pupils who are recorded as eligible for free school meals (FSM), or have been recorded as eligible in the past 6 years (referred to as Ever 6 FSM)View the official source;
  • children who were previously in care, including adopted childrenPupil premium: children who were in careChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: children previously looked after by a local authority or other state care, including children adopted from state care or equivalent from outside England and WalesView the official source.

There is also a service pupil premium for children of service families, now or recorded in the past 6 yearsService pupil premium (Armed Forces families)Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: they do not currently have ‘service child’ status but they have been registered as a ‘service child’ on any DfE school census in the past 6 yearsView the official source.

Did the 2026 free school meals change affect this?

Yes, and it matters for the 11+. from 2026 to 2027, any family on Universal Credit qualifies for free school mealsFree school meals for families on Universal Credit from 2026Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: From the start of academic year 2026 to 2027, your child will qualify for free school meals if you get Universal Credit, regardless of household income.View the official source. However, the pupil premium rules now say only “Targeted” free school meals count towards pupil premium; the new “Expanded” category does notFree school meals: the change from 2026 to 2027Checked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, the Department for Education (DfE) is delivering an expansion to FSM eligibility to include all pupils from households in receipt of Universal Credit. [...] Following the expansion of FSM, only pupils eligible for Targeted FSM will be part of the Ever 6 FSM cohort.View the official source.

So a child who has free school meals only because of the new Universal Credit rule may not count as eligible for the pupil premium, and may not get pupil premium priority at a grammar school. Each school's admission policy defines exactly which children it prioritises. If your child's free school meals started recently, check the policy wording carefully and ask the school or council if you are unsure.

How do grammar schools use pupil premium priority?

The School Admissions Code allows it: schools may (but do not have to) prioritise children eligible for the pupil premium or service premiumPriority for children eligible for the pupil premiumChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Department for Education (GOV.UK).The source says: Admission authorities may give priority in their oversubscription criteria to ... children eligible for the early years pupil premium , the pupil premium and also ... children eligible for the service premium .View the official source. Schools use it in two main ways:

  1. Higher priority among children who pass. Eligible children who reach the standard are placed higher in the school's admission rules.
  2. A lower qualifying score. Some schools keep a small number of places for eligible children who score a little below the usual pass mark.

In Buckinghamshire, for example, schools keep some places for eligible children who need a minimum score set by each school, a little below the qualifying scoreBuckinghamshire: Pupil premium places below the qualifying score: the score rangeChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: Achieving a minimum score (specified by each school in their admissions policy)View the official source, and children usually need to live in the school's catchment areaBuckinghamshire: Pupil premium places below the qualifying score: who can applyChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: Usually being resident in the school’s catchment area.View the official source. Each school page shows its own rule.

What do you need to do?

  1. Check eligibility. If you are not sure whether your child counts, ask their primary school.
  2. Read each school's policy for the exact definition and any lower score.
  3. Send the evidence the school asks for, by its deadline. This is often a separate form to the school, not part of your council application. In Buckinghamshire, for 2027 entry, the evidence deadline is 31 October 2026Buckinghamshire 2027 entry: Pupil premium evidence deadlineChecked 9 Oct 2026 against Buckinghamshire Council.The source says: you should send evidence of your child’s Pupil Premium entitlement and test score to the relevant school(s) by the application deadline on 31 October.View the official source.
  4. Name the school on your council application as usual.

The evidence step is easy to miss. Put the date in your calendar as soon as you know it.

Is free practice available for eligible children?

Some test providers and schools offer free familiarisation or support for eligible children. Check your target schools' admissions pages, and use the free official familiarisation materials for your test; see preparing without a tutor.

Sources

Facts on this page come from GOV.UK (pupil premium funding; apply for free school meals) and the School Admissions Code 2021, archived on 9 October 2026, and our verified Buckinghamshire records.

ExamKind is independent and is not connected with any school, council or test provider. How we make our content.

Facts used in this guidesources in each row
FactDetailSource
Pupil premium: free school meals now or in the last six yearschildren recorded for free school meals now or in the past 6 yearsSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
Pupil premium: children who were in carechildren who were previously in care, including adopted childrenSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
Service pupil premium (Armed Forces families)children of service families, now or recorded in the past 6 yearsSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
Free school meals for families on Universal Credit from 2026from 2026 to 2027, any family on Universal Credit qualifies for free school mealsSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
Free school meals: the change from 2026 to 2027only “Targeted” free school meals count towards pupil premium; the new “Expanded” category does notSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
Priority for children eligible for the pupil premiumschools may (but do not have to) prioritise children eligible for the pupil premium or service premiumSource: Department for Education (GOV.UK), checked
Buckinghamshire: Pupil premium places below the qualifying score: the score rangea minimum score set by each school, a little below the qualifying scoreSource: Buckinghamshire Council, checked
Buckinghamshire: Pupil premium places below the qualifying score: who can applyusually need to live in the school's catchment areaSource: Buckinghamshire Council, checked
Buckinghamshire 2027 entry: Pupil premium evidence deadline31 October 2026Source: Buckinghamshire Council, checked

Written and checked by the ExamKind Editorial Team. Every fact on this page links to its official source. ExamKind is independent: no test provider, school or council owns us, and we have no ads. Spotted a mistake? Report an error on this page, or see every correction we have made.