Some of the key findings from the final report were:

• headteachers appreciated the considerable additional funding in conjunction with ease of administration and the freedom to use it to meet individual school (and pupil) needs; 
• analysis indicated that schools receiving PLC funding had narrowed the attainment gap with other urban schools from 2001 - 2003, and suggested that the programme had been cost effective;
• analysis also suggested that the PLC policy had led to a reduction in absences of about one half of a percentage point.

To obtain hard copies of the research report (order code RR 687, price £4.95) and research brief (order code RB 687), tel: 0845 602 2260