School cash is top of the class, says George
Paisley’s MSP has welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement of a £50million package of support to improve attainment in schools.
George Adam said pupils living in Paisley’s most deprived communities will benefit from targeted funding from the Attainment Scotland Fund to help close the poverty-related attainment gap.
Renfrewshire Council will receive a £4,558,000 investment from the Scottish Government to support pupils from deprived backgrounds.
Schools and local authorities will have flexibility to redirect some of this funding from existing plans to best support the most vulnerable and disadvantaged families in a bid to soften the blow of the current pandemic.
Mr Ada m said: “In government, the SNP has put closing the poverty- related attainment gap front and centre of its plans to improve education.
“This latest funding boost for Paisley demonstrates the government’s ambition to transform our schools and ensure that every young person gets the chance to succeed in life, regardless of their background.
“There’s still a lot to do in reducing poverty and inequality in Scotland – but universal benefits like free school meals for our youngest pupils, free prescriptions and free higher education are helping keep more money in the pockets of hardworking families here in our town.
“Education Secretary John Swinney has also handed councils the flexibility to use this funding to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic so no child gets left behind and I know this will go a long way to make sure all Paisley children have the opportunity to achieve their dreams.”