Cost of the School Day Voice meeting notes

Two guest speakers: Allison Hopton from Auchenharvie Academy discussed successful examples of practice in her school and a proposal for a National Equity Charter, and Susie Wood from Education Scotland shared information about a new national professional learning programme on mitigating the impact of poverty.

Sara Spencer gave a budget and policy overview, leaders shared practice ideas and Alison Brown did a walk through of the CoSD webpages.

Summary of the Voice Leaders meeting which took place on the 29 October 2025 - including a recap of what happened at the Cost of the School Day young people summit, a link to a film made about he day, and an input from Carolina from Kilmarnock Academy about what happens in her school.

Pupils from Irvine Royal Academy told the meeting what cost reducing activities have been working in their school and Tom McKenna from the Scottish Government's PEF policy unit shared insights from the government's Pupil Equity Funding report.

Emma Taylor from Braes High School on how to develop and embed a CoSD policy, Arlene Black from West Lothian on the local authority's approach to supporting all schools with CoSD action plans.

Additional funding spreadsheet, funding for school trips, food at school, resources, fundraising.

News and updates, activities last year, uniform policy guidance released, Challenge Poverty Week.

Contributions from Kirkhill Primary School and Braes High School, The Big Question report and film, request for feedback about the network.

Talking about Participatory Budgeting and PEF with pupils, finding sponsor for food at school, making school clubs free, encouraging uptake of Free School Meals,

Pupils shared the best thing their school is doing to keep costs down, there was a celebration of everything that young people from the Voice network have been involved with over the last year and plans for the upcoming year were discussed.

Pupils shared practice at their schools, including: a cluster wide uniform bank; camp equipment packs; and partnerships with community organisations. Everyone discussed next steps for the network and what opportunities will be coming up next year.

Pupils shared their descriptions of CoSD in their words, the group discussed practice taking place in their schools and the upcoming Scottish election.

This session focused on facts about child poverty, what secondary schools are doing to help, the School Shouldn't Cost manifesto and opportunities to speak directly to politicians.

A summary of the Primary Voice meeting which took place on the 28 October - including an input from Blackland’s Primary School in North Ayrshire, and an input from Pupils from Dunlop Primary School in East Ayrshire shared their experience attending the summit.

Bridgend Primary School shared lots of things that their school is doing to reduce costs and improve equity, including their Bridgend Helpers Programme, and everyone had a think about what they would do if they had a magic money tree.

Newton Primary School members describe their visit to the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood Secondary School talked about take what you need trolleys, Ambassadors from Carluke High School talked about using a uniform app, Irvine Royal pupils talked about badging plain uniform.

Boghall Primary School pupils talked about making a video, West Calder High School learners described how they raise awareness in their school, inputs fro, #IWILL Ambassadors and Child Poverty Action Group Youth Panel.

Tips on involving children and young people from teachers and learners from Braes High School in Falkirk, Rosebank Primary School in Dundee.

Voice network members from schools described how the are using video clips, QR codes, surveys, campaigns and posters.