Government education cash for Fife ‘ludicrously unfair’

Fife’s children have been short-changed by a Scottish Government funding announcement, it has been claimed.

The Liberal Democrats education spokesperson in Fife, councillor James Calder, says that the £1 million awarded to the region as part of the Scottish Attainment Challenge Funding is disproportionate.

Fears were expressed by the Conservative MSP Liz Smith last week that a “postcode lottery” was developing after Dundee received £5.6m from the fund, designed to close the attainment gap for pupils from deprived backgrounds.

Mr Calder said: “In Fife we have the third highest number of pupils living in the areas with the most deprivation and the fifth highest number of pupils attending schools with high levels of deprivation.

“This indicates to me that Fife Council should be receiving a very high share of the resources required from the Scottish Attainment Challenge Funding.”

“Despite the indications that Fife should be one of the highest recipients of this important funding, the Scottish Government has decided to see fit that we are not even in the top 10 local authorities for funding.

“This seems to be ludicrously unfair and I call on the government to review their formula in deciding how its funding is delivered to ensure Fife children get their fair share.”

Last week the Scottish Government said that funding was allocated based on “where the need is greatest”.

John Swinney, Deputy First Minister, added that the additional cash allowed local authorities and individual schools to tailor their spending plans accordingly.