Education Secretary hails Scottish Budget for investing in children

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth hailed the Scottish Budget for investing £3.5 billion in children and education.

The Budget unveiled on Tuesday included an increase of £70 million in college funding, equivalent to a 10% rise on last year; up to £20 million for the University of Dundee to support its recovery plan; and funding for additional support needs provision, which was praised as protecting teacher numbers and supporting children and families.

An additional commitment of £15 million was made for breakfast clubs in 2026-27 to help build a national offer by August 2027, while £1 million was allocated to support the development of local pilots to test approaches to reducing class contact time.

Ms Gilruth said that additional funding to support colleges, universities and protect teacher numbers will target investment where it has “the greatest impact in maintaining our focus on tackling attainment and skills”.

For universities, an investment of more than £55 million – up 5% on last year – was outlined, with up to £200 million in the Scottish attainment challenge programme, including pupil equity funding to schools, to further improve outcomes for children and young people affected by poverty.

The Scottish Government said the core commitment to addressing child poverty is supported by the extra breakfast club funding and a continued investment in 1,140 hours a year of funded early learning and childcare (ELC) for all three- and four-year-olds, and eligible children from the age of two.

It said the 2026-27 draft Budget provides £3.5 billion across the education and skills portfolio as part of the commitment to improve outcomes for pupils and students.

The spending plans also support the ongoing process of reform in the sector to strengthen resilience across the system, it added.

Ms Gilruth said: “This is a Budget that targets investment where it has the greatest impact in maintaining our focus on attainment and skills, while addressing our core mission to tackle child poverty.

“At a critical time, this Budget delivers a significant real-terms increase in our investment in colleges and universities so that people of all ages have the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

“Schools are delivering literacy and numeracy attainment at the highest levels on record, with sustained progress in narrowing the poverty-related attainment gap through the Scottish attainment challenge.

“Attendance has improved, class sizes are smaller, and there are more teachers in Scotland’s classrooms.

“This Budget builds on these gains by protecting teacher numbers, supporting workforce stability and ensuring that staffing levels continue to support high-quality teaching, learning and relationships in schools.”