Schools to get more than £2m this year

Eight schools across Rutherglen and Cambuslang are to benefit from the next round of the Scottish Government’s Attainment Challenge.

The government confirmed this week that £2.02 million would be spent in schools across South Lanarkshire that have a high proportion of children living in poverty. James Aiton Primary School in Cambuslang and Rutherglen’s Burgh, Cathkin, Loch, and St Mark’s primaries have all been identified under the government’s 2017/18 schools programme.

The area’s three secondary schools – Trinity, Stonelaw and Cathkin – are also to benefit from the fund.

The money – which still has to be announced for each individual school – will be spent on initiatives designed to close the attainment gap between these children and their counterparts from more affluent areas.

Clare Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen and Cambuslang, said: “This latest round of funding will ensure that schools where the need is greatest have substantial additional funding for the coming year to improve literacy, numeracy and health and well-being. I’m delighted that schools in South Lanarkshire are benefitting from this funding, which is targeted to improve the life chances of children and young people in Scotland.”

The funding is in addition to £120m Pupil Equity Fund which sees head teachers allocated extra cash to spend at their discretion on additional staffing or resources they consider will help reduce the poverty-related attainment gap.