In August, children and young people returned to schools in Scotland in the grip of rising poverty as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. The 2022 Scottish Qualifications Authority exam results revealed growing gaps in attainment between pupils living in the most and least deprived areas of Scotland.
Gaps in literacy and numeracy at primary school have also widened since the beginning of the pandemic. Specific groups of young people, including white boys living in deprived areas, Gypsy/Travellers, care-experienced learners and young people with additional support needs, continue to be most affected.
Earlier this year, I gave evidence to the Education, Children and Young People’s Committee’s Attainment Inquiry. The Poverty Alliance’s work on reviewing the attainment gap, commissioned by The Robertson Trust, called for more action to boost the incomes of families struggling to stay afloat. While evidence supports initiatives such as more support for parents and families in the early years and free tutoring for young people living in poverty, the root of educational inequality must be addressed by increasing the incomes of families living in poverty in Scotland.
On 2 August, the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People’s Committee published its report on the Scottish Attainment Challenge. It raised concerns about variation in education performance across local authorities and how evidence is being gathered on the ground.
We agree with the committee’s report that the poverty attainment gap cannot be tackled by schools working alone. Community and third-sector organisations have a vital role to play in supporting families and young people, and there is much more that could be done to provide sustainable longer-term funding.
There must also be consistency at local level, and flexible options for children and young people through the Pupil Equity Fund (PEF). We also welcome Education Scotland’s guidance on PEF and how schools and local authorities can involve children and families in decision making on how the money is used locally.
The cost-of-living crisis creates new barriers to reducing the gaps in educational attainment in Scotland. Families living on low incomes will be hardest hit by rising costs of living. In August, a Joseph Rowntree Foundation report showed that in 2023-24, the poorest fifth of families will pay out on average almost half of their incomes on energy bills. As families struggle to afford basic essentials, they will be unable to afford resources essential to children and young people’s education, including access to extracurricular activities.
This is a moment of decision for government, and for all of us. Decades of falling wage values and cuts to social security have left people under constant pressure to make ends meet. We need to seize this moment and start to redesign our economy and rebuild our social security system, so that children and their families have the income they need to live in dignity and security.
Teachers can help. They can explore these issues with children and young people using lesson plans that have been created to mark Challenge Poverty Week on 3-9 October, and they can show their values of social justice by joining the Poverty Alliance, and other organisations, as we campaign for a better Scotland with freedom and opportunity for all.
Dr Laura Robertson is a senior research officer at Scottish anti-poverty organisation the Poverty Alliance
