GRAHAME AND BEATTIE WELCOME £2.27 MILLION BOOST FROM PUPIL EQUITY FUND TO MIDLOTHIAN SCHOOLS INVESTMENT AIMED AT CLOSING THE POVERTY-RELATED ATTAINMENT GAP

A Scottish Government fund aimed at boosting the attainment levels of the most deprived pupils is set to pay out £2,273,160 to schools across Midlothian next year.
 
More than 2,300 schools across Scotland are set to benefit from the funding – including 39 across Midlothian. The significant investment gives money directly to headteachers, allowing them to spend the money on local initiatives that will close the poverty-related attainment gap.
 
Commenting, SNP MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale,Christine Grahame said:
 
“The SNP has made closing the attainment gap our priority in this parliament – and the latest investment of £1.84/ £2.27 million in our schools and our children across the Borders/ Midlothian is a key part of that.
 
“Every child should have the best possible start in life, no matter their background – and the role that schools play in giving children the support they need is absolutely vital.
 
SNP MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh,Colin Beattie added:
 
“It is right that this significant investment to close the poverty-related attainment gap goes straight to headteachers – giving those with the most intimate knowledge of their schools the ability to develop initiatives to benefit children across the area.
 
“And with 68/ 39 number of schools benefiting from this latest round of funding – following a similar significant investment last year – even more of our children are going to benefit from creative new initiatives that will help to tackle the attainment gap in our schools.”