TEACHERS of disadvantaged pupils have no idea how state support fund the Pupil Premium is being spent by schools, according to union research published yesterday.

A survey of nearly 3,000 teachers in England found that over half have little or no control in the way the premium is spent.

Now in its second year, the survey by teachers union NASUWT, shows there has been almost no improvement in transparency since 2014-15.

Union general secretary Chris Keates said: “It is clear that there is still a profound lack of transparency about how the Pupil Premium is being allocated within schools.”

Almost nine out of 10 teachers said they had received no training on how to help pupils eligible for the funds.

A further 70 per cent confirmed their school’s strategy on how to use the Pupil Premium was not discussed or reviewed with staff.

In her comments, Ms Keates added: “To add insult to injury, despite not being supported teachers are increasingly being monitored and assessed on the work they are doing to support pupils eligible for the premium.

“NASUWT has warned repeatedly that the government’s failure to protect school budgets in real terms since 2010 would lead inevitably to the Pupil Premium being absorbed into school budgets to assist schools in making ends meet.

“This is yet another example of how the free-for -ll the government has created continues to disadvantage pupils and teachers.

“If real progress is to be made in closing the achievement gap for the most disadvantaged pupils, then those actually teaching the pupils need to be consulted on its use.”