The newly formed Giffnock Primary School parent equalities group in East Renfrewshire adapted a Cost of the School Day survey to find out how families had been affected financially by Covid and lockdown.
Cost of the School Day Voice network members Summer and Brooke from Ardrossan Academy and Cathy and Leland from Newton Primary school took part in a Scottish Parliament roundtable about universal free school meals. Organised by Monica Lennon MSP in collaboration with the STUC Women’s Committee and the Sunday Mail as part of the Food for Thought campaign, the learners got the chance to tell decision makers, including Jenny Gilruth, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, what they thought about universal free school meal provision and what needs to happen next.
During Challenge Poverty Week, Irvine Royal Academy pupils interviewed their Head Teacher about what their school does to reduce costs. The aim was to raise awareness and think about what more could be done.
When CPAG in Scotland and the University of Aberdeen organised a roundtable event at the Scottish Parliament to discuss school uniform affordability and the school clothing grant with MSPs, we knew it was vital to hear directly from young people.
Learners at Trinity High School have been working with teaching staff to identify costs and create a costs calendar. The calendar will help all members of the school community see where costs arise, what support is offered, and widen participation for all learners.
The Pupil Council at Boghall Primary School in West Lothian recently took the lead on a Cost of the School Day consultation with parents and carers in their school community. They used lots of different ways to reach people and hear their views.
A learner from Trinity High School in South Lanarkshire took part in a special event in the run up to the general election, where young people asked questions direct to candidates from several major parties, and offered a chance for young people to ask questions about the things that matter to them, which included costs at school, the closure of youth clubs and services, tacking child poverty and the difficulties young people are having accessing college places.
