Call to ensure all new school funding spent for pupils’ benefit

Fife head teachers must be able to prove pupils are benefiting from millions of pounds of new funding, a local councillor has said.

Former teacher Colin Davidson has called for local area committees to take an overview of how schools are spending their share of the £120 million Pupil Equity Fund to ensure there are “tangible improvements” for all pupils.

Mr Davidson, who taught religious and moral education at Kirkland High in Methil and Bell Baxter in Cupar, is now councillor for Leven, Kennoway and Largo.

He said around £10m was likely to come to schools in Levenmouth over the next five years, both through the new fund and from other sources.

“I have asked that the Levenmouth area committee gets an overview from head teachers on how they are going to implement this money,” he said.

“I think that’s a reasonable question to ask because it’s public money.”

Mr Davidson said the amount of money being handed over to schools needed careful stewardship, especially at a time when budget cuts were hitting council services.

“It’s only right that elected members take more than a passing interest in how this money is going to be spent,” he said.

Since April schools across Scotland have been receiving their share of the Pupil Equity Fund, aimed at children most affected by the poverty-related attainment gap.

Head teachers can use the cash for additional staffing or resources but, while there is clear guidance on how it can be spent, concerns have been expressed that in some cases it is being squandered on unnecessary items.

“We need to make the most of the investment and ensure the clear examples of primary schools working together to create good quality of learning is not lost when pupils move up to secondary,” said Mr Davidson.

“We’ve never had this level of money before and we need to ensure it’s spent in a way that is measured and will benefit all pupils.”