Pupils’ trip funded by attainment gap cash

Cash from a fund aimed at helping close the attainment gap in schools was used to send pupils and their parents on a weekend trip away, the First Minister has revealed.

However, she said using Pupil Equity Fund money for that had helped improve attendance rates.

She gave the example as she was pressed by Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson on efforts to close the attainment gap – with the Tory claiming cash was unspent or was used to help with “plugging gaps left by budget cuts or to pay for other costs like campus police, staff bonuses and installing an astroturf pitch”.

Ms Sturgeon said money was allocated to “some things that at first glance many people would think ‘is that appropriate in terms of raising attainment?’”