SNP accused of betraying children over pupil funds

The SNP Government is planning an overhaul of funding for pupils from deprived areas, according to a leaked paper.

A document revealed proposals for a “redistribution” of cash currently earmarked for a minority of councils to all 32 local authorities.

Michael Marra, Scottish Labour education spokesman, said: “It beggars belief that the SNP would choose this moment to make callous cuts to the poorest children’s education.

“If this move goes ahead it would end any pretence that the SNP care about Scotland’s young people and recovery in their education.”

Holyrood plans for closing the poverty-related attainment gap were backed up by £215m this year.

One of the five programmes was £43m of “challenge” funding for the nine councils with the highest concentrations of deprivation. These are Clackmannanshire, Dundee, East Ayrshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire.

However, a paper by council umbrella group COSLA shows the method of allocation is about the revamped: “The Challenge Schools funding will cease and there will be a tapered redistribution of the £43 million currently distributed to the nine Challenge Authorities to a strategic allocation to all 32 local authorities.”

A source said the phase out would take place over a number of years as a way of assisting the nine councils.

Marra added: “In just five years Nicola Sturgeon has gone from pledging to close the attainment gap to slashing lifeline funds for the pupils who need it the most.

“There never has been a plan for recovery in education after the pandemic, but it seems even the empty rhetoric has been abandoned now. This would be a betrayal of our children and our future from a do-nothing Minister, in a do-nothing government, who simply couldn’t care less.”

The government is making an announcement on schools at Holyrood today.