Young people take ‘School Shouldn’t Cost’ message to Scottish Parliament ahead of election
Young people from the Cost of the School Day Voice network held a special event at the Scottish Parliament last night, to share vital calls from their School Shouldn’t Cost: The Young People’s Poverty and Education Manifesto 2026-31 to MSPs.
Voice network members with the Cabinet Secretary
Voice network members, their teachers, local authority representatives and MSPs gathered to discuss ‘School Shouldn’t Cost’, a manifesto which shares views from thousands of young people around Scotland about what needs to happen in their schools to tackle poverty and give everyone the same chance to learn.
The meeting was hosted by Bill Kidd MSP, and Jenny Gilruth, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills came to speak to and hear from young people. Reflecting on why the manifesto is so consequential, Ms Gilruth said:
“There’s two months to go until the Scottish Parliament elections, so we’re very close now to the dissolution of parliament, which is why this document is very important. Not just for me as a Cabinet Secretary but for all politicians who work in this building, and for all political parties. We should all be thinking about the cost of the school day and how we can all work together to eradicate those problems.”
Cabinet Secretary for Education Jenny Gilruth at the School Shouldn't Cost manifesto event
Sharing manifesto calls
Young people were excited to be able to share the calls in the manifesto that they helped to build. Zoe, Daisy, Fern, Orla and Daisy from Braes High School discussed call three, and outlined the issues facing children and young people living on low incomes:
“How is a pupil supposed to be engaged in their learning while maybe not having all the basic necessities? How would you feel if you came to work without everything you needed? Without the foundations and basic supplies you need to learn, children are getting set up for failure. This creates a constant poverty cycle. The attainment gap is a result of deep-rooted inequality in society which this manifesto wants to address.”
Evie from Irvine Royal Academy offered thoughts on the first manifesto call:
“We are calling for more support for low-income families and lots of ways to help make sure families know how to get the money and the help they need. We hope all parties and election candidates standing in May are listening to this, and will go back and discuss with your colleagues and start making more plans.”
Manifesto built from the voices of children and young people
The manifesto brings together thoughts and ideas from thousands of young people, who expressed their views through The Big Question, numerous consultations and at the Cost of the School Day young people summit in September 2025. The calls reflect what young people say they need to see happen to remove the barriers that those who experience poverty often face.
The calls
- End child poverty. Make sure our families have what they need so we can come to school ready to learn.
- Fund every school to fully remove cost pressures from our families and help us overcome poverty-related barriers to learning.
- Help us with the basics we need to learn, take part and feel included at school – free school meals, uniform support, devices and resources for all and continued funding for curriculum costs.
- Opportunities for all. Help all of us benefit from life-changing school trips and from activities in our communities.
- Involve us! We can help make our schools and Scotland better.
Young people from Holyrood Secondary School and Linlithgow Primary Schools at the Scottish Parliament
Nairn from Linlithgow Primary School told everyone why call five is so important and it’s vital that all parties running in the Scottish elections in May pay attention to this manifesto:
“We are Scotland’s future and if you listen to our ideas, then that might be what is best for us, because it is us you are talking about.”
Dillon from St John Ogilvie High School had a request for all politicians:
“I would like them to really consider things that have been brought up today and keep them in mind when they are forming new policy plans and manifestos especially with an election coming up.”
Jenny Gilruth encouraged young people to carry on work to ensure the manifesto is seen by everyone:
"Please continuing your lobbying efforts to all political parties, as we approach the election. We all need to be talking about the cost of the school day and what more every political party can do to eradicate those costs."
Can your school help to share this manifesto?
If pupils at your school would like to get involved and share these calls, you'll find lots of great suggestions about getting in touch with politicians, sharing with other schools and campaigning on social media on this page: School Shouldn't Cost: The Young People's Poverty and Education Manifesto 2026-31.
More information for politicians and candidates
If you would like to know more about the Voice network ‘School Shouldn’t Cost’ manifesto, please get in touch with the Cost of the School Day team at [email protected]. If you are an MSP, candidate or party representative and you'd like to hear direct from our young people we would be delighted to facilitate a meeting with you.
Want to get involved?
The young people who are collaborating on this work, getting their voices heard on the topic that matters to them, as well as tackling poverty in their own school settings, are all part of the Voice network. Join to get involved!