Schools throughout Clydebank are in line to see poverty-related attainment gaps close, thanks to an increase in investment. 

The Scottish Government’s Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) scheme puts money directly into the hands of headteachers, allowing them to decide how best to use it to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils.

More than £132m of the targeted funding was spent across the country last year by headteachers - a significant increase on spending in 2017/18.

With £122.2m allocated for 2018/19 alongside a carry-over of £47.6m from 2017/18, schools across the country invested 78 per cent of the funding made available, up 18 per cent from the previous year.

The Scottish Government’s “Attainment Scotland Fund evaluation: interim report” which was published in June found that almost 90 per cent of headteachers throughout the country reported marked improvements in closing the poverty-related gap as a result of the support, while a staggering 95 per cent expected to see improvements over the next five years.

The news has been welcomed by Deputy First Minister John Swinney.

He said: “Every child deserves to grow up knowing there are no limits to what they can achieve. Empowered teachers, given the right resources and appropriate support, are making a massive difference in our classrooms and are transforming lives.

“Closing the attainment gap will take time but we also know that what we are doing is having a tangible effect.

“The increase in Pupil Equity Funding investment by headteachers shows that our measures to empower teachers are working. Too often we hear the accusation that Scottish education lacks creativity and innovation. PEF proves that argument entirely wrong.”