Young people share powerful views on poverty and education at Bute House

This week twelve young people from the Cost of the School Day Voice network met with the First Minister, John Swinney, and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth. They met at the First Minister's official residence, Bute House in Edinburgh, for a discussion about how the government can help further reduce the impact of poverty in Scotland’s schools.

Sharing the views of thousands

Representing the views of thousands of young people across Scotland, Voice network members raised their concerns about child poverty, funding for schools, free school meals and equal access to resources, trips and opportunities. Carolina and Erin from Kilmarnock Academy described why all the young people in the room were taking action on poverty:

“Each of us have seen it, some of us have experienced it. Many of our schools have taken the initiative and used compassion and budgets to create systems and opportunities to increase pupil support and relieve the stress of struggling families. We believe that change is necessary.”

What needs to happen – views from young people

Young people spoke about what their schools are doing right now to take the pressure off low-income families. Primary pupils Jayde and Jaxon described how: 

“In our school, Newton Primary, children get loads of help with food because we know that if we are hungry, we don’t feel good and our brains can’t learn”

But young people were clear that more needs to happen. Bentley and Scarlet, from Fintry Primary School in Dundee, told the First Minister how important trips are:

“Many families can’t afford to pay for these and if children can’t go they feel gutted, and are missing out on learning, opportunities and their attendance suffers too as they sometimes stay off school on the run up to the trip, during and after as they feel left out.” 

Anna and Rachel from St John Ogilvie High School said that consistency is key: 

“We think the government needs to be working to ensure similar experiences for young people across Scotland’s schools. We are keen this afternoon to hear how you First Minister will work with us to make that a reality.”

And Jacob and Evie from Irvine Royal Academy in North Ayrshire said::

“This is not just for you to fix Mr Swinney, your whole cabinet needs to be thinking about this alongside our local councils – will you be looking and discussing this further with colleagues?”

The response to what young people said

In response to what he’d heard, the First Minister said:

“Thank you for your incredibly powerful and well-articulated contributions. I think we can't look at the cost of schooling in isolation from the rest of the agenda about poverty. And reducing child poverty is the central mission of the government.”

Mr Swinney said that he was interested in the issues raised around things like trips and resources for learning, which the government doesn’t currently fund separately. Young people raised the importance of key members of staff at school who support children and families:

“I'm really interested in how that feels for yourselves, because I've come across individuals who just opened the door for solutions for families.”

Jenny Gilruth, Cabinet Secretary for Education reflected on what she’d heard:

“It breaks my heart to hear you all talk about poverty in your schools, You shouldn’t have to be talking about that in Scotland in 2025. And I think that in the last 20 to 30 years we’ve changed the way in which our schools meet the needs of families.” 

School Shouldn’t Cost – upcoming young people’s poverty and education manifesto

Lots of the topics addressed in today’s conversation will be covered in School Shouldn’t Cost which will be published on 8 December. This manifesto outlines what thousands of young people across Scotland want the next government to do to reduce the impact of poverty on education.

“ When you read a report or a budget line, we hope you’ll remember that behind every word and every figure there is a child who just wants a fair chance at life. A child who wants to learn without shame, grow without fear and dream without limits. If we want children to believe in their future, we must first remove the barriers in their present.” 

Sierra and Sammy from Levenmouth Academy

Thank you to all the amazing young people who took part in the meeting and shared their views.