Final Report of the Evaluation of the Pupil Learning Credits Pilot ...

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Consultation and decision making
In order to examine the processes involved in planning and setting up PLC-funded
provision, consultation at school-level about targeting and spending decisions was
investigated.
In 80 per cent of the schools surveyed, the decision about which pupils or groups of
pupils should be targeted by PLC resources was made by the senior management
team. In nine out of ten schools, there was reported to be consultation about the
specific activities to be offered; in around three-quarters of schools both the school’s
senior management team and other teachers were consulted, and in over a quarter of
schools, pupils were consulted. In a small proportion of schools (five per cent)
parents and carers were consulted on the pupils to be targeted by PLC resources; ten
per cent of schools reported consultation with parents about activities that should be
offered.
In the case study schools, discussions about the sorts of activities that should be
offered and to whom commonly took place at senior management level. Other
teachers and pupils had an input through staff meetings and via the school council
respectively. None of the case study schools consulted with parents/carers
specifically about the PLC pilot scheme and some interviewees highlighted the
problems they had encountered when attempting to carry out consultations, for
example:
We consult parents over some things, but it’s actually really hard work to get
feedback from parents. When we do it, it’s over big changes to the school.
However, parents’ suggestions obtained as part of other consultation exercises were
taken into account in some of the case study schools visited.
Pupils targeted by PLC funds
The Pupil Learning Credits pilot scheme was originally conceived as focusing
predominantly on pupils in Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9). Yet, as the pilot scheme
both enabled and encouraged schools to make their own spending and targeting
decisions, the question as to which pupils were actually involved and targeted by the
scheme was explored in the telephone interviews and the case studies.
The telephone interviews revealed that in over eight out of ten schools, PLC funding
was targeted on groups of pupils and in half on individual pupils. Some respondents
thus indicated that they targeted both individuals and groups of pupils. In around
nine out of ten schools, each year group in Key Stage 3 was involved. Around half of
the headteachers indicated that they had used PLC funds for year groups above Year
9. Case study schools used PLC funds with most year groups, though generally
emphasised provision for the younger age group.
The telephone interviews showed that the criteria used most frequently to make the
decision about which pupils should be targeted by PLC resources were disadvantaged
or socially deprived pupils and known eligibility for Free School Meals. Just under a
third of headteachers had concerns in principle with initiatives such as the PLC pilot
scheme targeting particular pupils or groups of pupils. Interestingly, fewer than one