Record investment in Scottish education budget

Resource and capital spending for education is up almost £200 million – one of the biggest rises in the history of the Scottish Parliament.

An investment of £145.5 million will go towards the sustained employment of additional teachers and classrooms assistants – enough for around 2,500 teachers and 500 support staff. This represents the biggest increase to support teacher recruitment since 2007.

The Scottish Attainment Challenge will receive £200 million - part of the record £1 billion that will be provided over the course of this Parliament to tackle the poverty-related attainment gap.

Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Our priority is to ensure that all our children and young people have the opportunities they need to fulfil their potential in school and beyond.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present challenges, but our commitment to equity and excellence in education does not waver. This record investment in education in the 2022-23 Budget demonstrates our determination to support learners of all ages.

“The sustained employment of additional teachers and classroom assistants to support school staff and pupils is a key part of that. So too is our investment to accelerate the pace of tackling the poverty-related attainment gap and achieve the best possible outcomes for all our children and young people, whatever their background.”

The Budget will also deliver an offer of 1,140 hours of funded high quality early learning and childcare to all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds.

Over £42 million will go towards the expansion of free lunches for children in primary four and five and special schools, and £30 million for investment in school kitchens and dining areas to prepare for future expansion to all primary school children.

£20 million will go towards removing instrumental music tuition and core curriculum charges, and an initial £15 million will go towards providing a digital device to every school-aged child by 2026.

Nearly £2 billion will go towards universities and colleges and £10 million will go towards summer holiday childcare and activities programme for low income families.