For immediate release:

SOUTH LANARKSHIRE SCHOOLS RECEIVE £8 MILLION BOOST FROM PUPIL EQUITY FUND

A Scottish Government fund aimed at boosting the attainment levels of the most deprived pupils is set to pay out £7,988,400 to schools across South Lanarkshire next year.

More than 2,300 schools across Scotland are set to benefit from the funding – including 148 in South Lanarkshire. The significant investment gives money directly to head teachers, allowing them to spend the money on local initiatives that will close the poverty-related attainment gap.

Commenting, SNP MSP for Rutherglen, Clare Haughey, said:

“The Scottish Government has made closing the attainment gap our priority in this parliament – and the latest investment of nearly £8 million in our schools and our children across South Lanarkshire is a key part of that.

“Every child should have the best possible start in life, no matter their background – and the role that schools play in giving children the support they need is absolutely vital.

“That is why it is right that this significant investment to close the poverty-related attainment gap goes straight to head teachers – giving those with the most intimate knowledge of their schools the ability to develop initiatives to benefit children in Rutherglen and Cambuslang.

“And with schools benefiting from this latest round of funding – following a similar significant investment last year – even more of our children are going to benefit from creative new initiatives that will help to tackle the attainment gap in our schools.”

ENDS

Notes:

Local breakdown of funding:

Date published: 30th January 2018