Twenty-one schools have been recognised for leading the way in supporting their most disadvantaged pupils.
The schools have reached the final of the national Pupil Premium Awards, which celebrate schools’ most innovative and effective work in closing the gap between the performance of poorer pupils and that of their peers.
The awards are run by the Department for Education.
Last year, Ark Charter Academy, a Portsmouth secondary, was named the Pupil Premium National Winner after running a longer school day to help struggling pupils - including study groups on maths and literacy.
The school, which saw 82 per cent of its disadvantaged pupils achieve five or more A* to Cs (including English and maths) in 2014, also offers sailing, boxing classes and subsidised trips with the pupil premium funding.
Childcare and education minister Sam Gyimah said: “I would like to congratulate the finalists of this year’s awards who, through their creative use of the pupil premium, have each shown the impact that this funding and the dedication of teachers can have on improving life chances.
“While we know that the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their classmates has narrowed at both primary and secondary level, we want to go further, and I urge more schools to follow the example set by these finalists.”
Prizes include visits to museums and festivals and music sessions. The awards will be announced by the artist Tracey Emin at a ceremony next month.
The finalists are:
Schools with published key stage 2 results
Norbridge Academy, Nottinghamshire
Camp Primary and Nursery School, Hertfordshire
Edward Pauling Primary School, Hounslow
Northern Saints CofE Primary School, Sunderland
Lower Kersal Community Primary School, Salford
Blean Primary School, Kent
Ernesettle Community School, Plymouth
Tinsley Meadows Primary School, Sheffield
Schools with published key stage 4 results
Caroline Chisholm School, Northamptonshire
St Albans Girls’ School, Hertfordshire
La Retraite RC Girls’ School, Lambeth
St Wilfrid’s RC College, South Tyneside
Ripley St Thomas CofE Academy, Lancashire
Maiden Erlegh School, Reading
Great Torrington School, Devon
Selly Park Technology College for Girls, Birmingham
Healing Science Academy, NE Lincolnshire
Special schools and alternative provision schools
Park Campus Academy, Lambeth
The Link School Pallion, Sunderland
Infant, first and key stage 3 schools
Greenfylde CofE First School, Somerset
Hillcrest Early Years Academy, Lincolnshire