More than 70,000 pupils benefitted from free instrumental music tuition, the highest on record since 2012.
Scottish Government funding has eradicated music tuition charges since 2020, leading to thousands of young people picking up an instrument:
The proportion of young people leaving school with five or more passes at National Courses and Highers, as well as their equivalent vocational and technical qualifications, has increased over the past year.
A record high of 68.6% of young people left school with five or more qualifications at SCQF Level 5 (National 5 equivalent), according to the School Leaver Attainment and Initial Destination statistics 2024-25 published today. Those leaving with five or more passes at SCQF level 6 (Higher equivalent) rose to 40.8%. The gap between those from the most and least deprived areas leaving with five or more qualifications narrowed at Level 5.
Nine out of ten young people (95.7%) were in positive destinations – such as work, training, college or university – three months after leaving school. This is the same level as 2023-24 and the second highest on record.
There has also been a fall in the number of young people leaving school at S4, down by 544 pupils to 7,540, and in S5 (down 370), with more pupils (732) staying on until S6. This starts to reverse the trend seen in the immediate post-COVID period.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “An increasing number of young people are leaving school with five qualifications or more at SCQF Level 5 or better, including National 5s and Highers.
“This underlines the strong recovery we are seeing in education, following the pandemic and the importance of the breadth of choice schools offer to young people in the senior phase.
“It shows the hard work of learners, teachers and parents and carers and comes after we saw record levels of literacy and numeracy in Scotland’s schools in the recent ACEL statistics
“The Scottish Government has invested £1.75 billion in the Scottish Attainment Challenge over the past decade helping improve outcomes for children and young people impacted by poverty – and, while this latest data shows there is more to do, we remain determined to address this.
“The proportion of Scotland’s young people in positive destinations remains at a near record high. The welcome increase among those going on to Higher Education underlines the importance of our commitment to free tuition, ensuring in Scotland education is based on the ability to learn, not pay.
“The recently passed Tertiary Education and Training Bill will also put apprenticeships on a statutory footing for the first time, creating parity with other post-school routes to provide more choices for young people.”
destinations and attainment of 2024-25 leavers
Literacy and numeracy standards reach record high – gov.scot
Following enquiries from concerned local teachers seeking clarity on funding for anti-racist curriculum resources, Lothian MSP Foysol Choudhury raised the matter with the Scottish Government in Parliament last Thursday.
During Portfolio Questions, Mr Choudhury asked the Cabinet Secretary: “What specific funding allocations will be made to support participative curriculum resourcing in anti-racist materials, and how will schools be supported to access high-quality materials to ensure racist incidents are handled effectively to prevent far-right narratives from filling the gaps?”
In response, Cabinet Secretary Jenny Gilruth outlined funding already available to support anti-racism work in schools, noting that two additional funding streams are also in place. She confirmed she would write to Mr Choudhury with further details, and he said he looks forward to receiving that information.
As MSP for the Lothian region and a lifelong equality campaigner, Mr Choudhury has repeatedly raised issues around racism in schools, including funding for anti-racism education, improving reporting of racist incidents, and ensuring inclusive curriculum reform.
He has also been a leading voice on equality throughout his career, including serving as Chair of the Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council and supporting minority ethnic communities and anti-racism initiatives across Scotland.
In previous parliamentary questions, he sought clarity on government funding for anti-racism education initiatives, including programmes delivered through organisations such as Education Scotland and Intercultural Youth Scotland as part of the wider Anti-Racism in Education Programme.
Mr Choudhury said: “Our schools must be places where every child feels safe, respected, and represented. Teachers who contacted me were keen to ensure they have the right resources to support their pupils, and well-supported anti-racism programmes are an important part of that work.”
He added that he will continue working constructively with teachers, parents, young people and anti-racism organisations to understand what support schools need and to follow up with ministers as further information becomes available.
Schools will now need to inform pupils when a request is made by a parent or carer to withdraw them from religious observance and to consider any objection the young person may have, under legislation backed by MSPs.
The Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill was passed in a final Stage 3 vote in the Scottish Parliament.
The Bill was introduced to Parliament to clarify the legal position around the withdrawal of pupils from religious observance in schools.
The changes will align legislation with existing guidance on religious observance to strengthen alignment with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in its international form.
Once brought into effect, the legislation will strengthen pupil’s rights in relation to religious observance and religious and moral education.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “This Bill strengthens the protection and promotion of children’s rights in education, as well as those of their parents and carers. It builds on the wider progress we have made around the human rights of children and young people, while also ensuring parents continue to have a say on the religious elements of their child’s education.
“I recognise the wide range of views heard as the Bill has proceeded through the Parliamentary process. We will continue to adopt a collegiate and inclusive approach as these changes are implemented, including in the development of the new statutory guidance to accompany the legislation.“
Spending on schools across Scotland has increased by more than £1 billion in real terms over the past decade, official statistics show.
Data published this week shows that local authority funding across Primary, Secondary and Special schools rose to £7 billion in 2024-25, up 19.7% from £5.8 billion in 2014-15.
Average spending per pupil across Primary and Secondary schools also rose by more than £1,000 in real terms over the same period, reaching £8,683.
Local government education expenditure in Scotland in 2024-25 was £8.3 billion, which is 27% higher than in 2014-15 in real terms – a cash terms increase of 71%.
Pre-primary education expenditure has more than doubled in real terms over the past decade to £1.1 billion in 2024-25, up from £516 million in 2015-16, with 95% of this going on the delivery of the 1140 hours early learning and childcare offer.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “This investment underlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to education, working in partnership with councils, and means Scotland has the best paid teachers in the UK, the lowest pupil-teacher ratio and the highest education spending per head in the UK.
“Schools are delivering literacy and numeracy attainment at the highest levels on record, with a record low attainment gap for literacy and numeracy in primary and secondary schools. Attendance has improved, class sizes are smaller, and there are more teachers in Scotland’s classrooms.
“Last year’s exam results also showed there were more passes at every level compared to 2024, while the total number of Higher entries passed the landmark 200,000 level for the first time since Curriculum for Excellence was introduced in 2010. We have also made strong progress on widening access to higher education regardless of background or circumstance, with record numbers of young Scots in 2025 securing university places in Scotland who will benefit from free tuition.
“As we reflect on progress over the past ten years we are also looking to the future with local authorities and headteachers, to agree how best we might collectively go further and faster.”
Schools and community groups across Scotland are being encouraged to apply for funding through Tesco, as the retailer looks to support more local projects helping children and young people access healthy, nutritious food.
The community grant scheme awards up to £1,500, with shortlisted projects going forward to a customer vote in participating Tesco stores. Shoppers receive a blue token and can vote by placing it in the in-store unit for the cause they want to support. Each funding round features three local projects, with grants awarded based on the number of tokens received.
This year, Tesco is particularly keen to hear from initiatives with a clear food focus, including breakfast clubs, holiday food provision, access to healthy snacks for youth groups, community pantries, cookery and nutrition sessions, and food growing projects that help children learn where food comes from.
The call for applications comes as the latest Government diet survey shows that fewer than 1 in 10 children and young people aged 11–18 meet the recommended 5-a-day, with 11–18-year-olds eating an average of around 2.9 portions of fruit and vegetables per day*.
Tesco believes every child should have the opportunity to enjoy healthy food and is committed to backing practical projects that make a difference locally.
Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “Every child deserves the chance to enjoy healthy food and build the foundations for a healthier future, we want to support the brilliant schools and community groups in Scotland helping children and young people access nutritious food.
“Whether that’s a breakfast club, a pantry, cookery sessions or a project that helps children grow and try new foods, we’d encourage local organisations to apply—and we’d love shoppers to get involved when the customer vote comes to their local store.”
Already in Scotland, a number of local causes have benefited from the Stronger Starts blue token initiative, helping to improve children’s access to healthier food and nutrition education,
One example is the Kirkshaws Neighbourhood Centre in Coatbridge who host the KNC Kids Club, an afterschool club and summer holiday playscheme which supports young people aged five to ten and runs a series of cooking classes two days a week.
Through the classes, the young people learn about eating healthier foods and have the opportunity to prepare their own meals, such as soups, pastas and pizzas. The Stronger Start funding helped the group to purchase more kitchen equipment and ingredients, helping the kids continue their keen passion for cooking, learning new foods to try and discover a love for healthy eating.
Nicola Anderson, from KNC Kids Club, said: “The Tesco Stronger Starts grant made a real difference for the KNC Kids Club.
“It’s helped us to buy ingredients and new utensils in our on-site kitchen for local children and young people to use, and the customer vote gave the whole initiative a real lift. We’d strongly encourage other groups to apply—the funding and local support have made a genuinely positive impact.”
Another group who have benefitted from the grant is Mearns Primary School in Newton Mearns, who received a £1,500 Stronger Starts grant to help support their school’s breakfast club, allowing them to provide pupils with a soft-start routine through a nutritious breakfast every school day.
For more information about Tesco Stronger Starts and how to apply, visit:
ASH Scotland is urging high school teachers and youth workers in Edinburgh to use the health charity’s updated resource packs to inspire young people to make confident, informed decisions to protect their long-term health by not taking up smoking or vaping.
The Tobacco-free School and Youth packs, which each feature 30 engaging activities that can be used in lessons and group sessions, are being published by the health charity as the major public health issues of youth smoking and vaping are causing ongoing concern for teachers, parents and people working with children.
The packs provide facts and statistics covering a range of topics such as ‘Smoking and mental health’, ‘Smoking, vaping and peer pressure’, ‘Being confidently nicotine-free’ and features new exercises on nicotine pouches to support the delivery of personal and social education classes or for youth group activities across various subjects.
Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive for ASH Scotland, said: “As concerned teachers and youth workers across Scotland regularly contact us for information about tobacco and nicotine products such as vapes and pouches, we have produced updated resource packs with robust, evidence-based content to engage and empower young people in Edinburgh to make informed decisions about protecting their health and wellbeing.
“Our Tobacco-free School and Youth packs are especially designed to be effective learning aids to facilitate classwork and activities to help equip children to increase their knowledge about the health risks associated with smoking, vaping and using nicotine pouches.”
To download the packs, visit https://ashscotland.org.uk/tobacco-free-schools-pack/
A report discussed at Education, Children and Families Committee on Tuesday (20 January) provided an update on mobile phones in schools.
Following the decision made by Councillors in September 2025 to restrict the use of mobile phones in all primary schools, the report presented a range of next steps and options to support potential restrictions on mobile phones in secondary schools.
An interim Integrated Impact Assessment has taken place with consideration for pupils with medical or caring needs who may need access to a phone during the school day.
A citywide consultation is now live, and will run until 2 March, encouraging pupils, parents/carers and school staff to engage with the consultation and share their views:
Parents/carers: Mobile Phones in Schools – Parent/Carer survey – City of Edinburgh Council – Citizen Space
Pupils: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/cf/7c310789/
School staff: Mobile Phones in Schools – Staff survey – City of Edinburgh Council – Citizen Space
The report discussed at Education, Children and Families Committee outlined an initial evaluation of the two-year pilot underway at two Edinburgh secondary schools, Portobello and Queensferry High Schools, using lockable pouches, restricting access to mobile phones during the school day.
Both schools report that, in the relatively short time pouches have been in use, feedback is largely positive.
Elected members were presented with a range of options for implementing restrictions, with the preferred option outlined being the use of lockable pouches to support restrictions on mobile phone use across all secondary schools, and lockable cabinets in primary schools.
This would create a position of equity for families and schools but would require additional funding, factored into the Council’s budget setting process.
Next steps in the coming weeks and months include:
Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convener said: “In September 2025, it was agreed that restricting the use of mobile phones in our schools would be a positive step forward.
“We want these new measures to be brought in as soon as is practical, but it is the right thing to do to make sure that citywide consultation with families and communities, alongside an integrated impact assessment, takes place to explore and address any issues or concerns.
“Through many conversations, I understand that there is broad support for keeping smartphones out of the classroom, however there are individuals who have concerns which makes it even more important that as a Council we get this change right.
“Pilots, using lockable pouches, at Queensferry and Portobello High Schools have anecdotally been broadly successful, and as such the rollout of pouches in other settings needs to be explored. This includes options for financing mobile phone restrictions and the potential use of lockable pouches in secondary schools and lockable cabinets in primary schools.
“I am working closely with officers to move this forward as quickly as we can, while also making sure that we have done our due diligence to ensure that restricting mobile phones in our schools will have the intended positive impact.”
New funding will allow every primary pupil in Scotland to access a breakfast club, the First Minister has said.
The Scottish Budget will provide an additional £15 million in 2026-27 to expand breakfast club provision and help schools, councils and third sector partners prepare for the introduction of universal breakfast club services by August 2027.
The Scottish Government then plans to invest £44 million per year from 2027-28 to deliver the clubs for all primary school children in Scotland who want to access them. Every pupil attending a school specifically for children with additional support needs will also benefit.
Breakfast clubs not only give children a nutritious meal before school starts, they can also help improve school attendance and confidence in children, and the option of an early drop-off means parents have more flexibility so they can work or study.
First Minister John Swinney said: “My government is focused on delivering the priorities of the people of Scotland and through our budget, we are acting to provide help with the cost of living and doing all we can to eradicate child poverty.
“We know extending the school day before and after class can help children and their parents, particularly families who might be struggling with balancing the demands of getting to work early as well as the cost of the weekly food shop.
“Breakfast clubs are a perfect example of how we can give families the option of some extra support. Children can get a healthy start to their day as they eat breakfast and play with their friends, while parents are better able to get to work, or to take up training or study, knowing their children are being well looked after – there are clear benefits for the whole family.
“That is why we will invest £44 million each year to deliver a national breakfast club programme across all primary and special schools from August 2027, with the Scottish Budget investing £15 million in the coming year to support the expansion and help partners prepare.”
Scottish Budget 2026-27 – gov.scot
Scottish Government funding through the Bright Start Breakfasts programme currently supports 490 clubs and up to 20,000 children.
The 2026-27 Scottish Budget will provide £3 million to continue to support existing Bright Start Breakfasts clubs and a further £15 million to help prepare for expanded provision from August 2027.
A universal breakfast club offer will be available to all children attending primary or special schools in Scotland.
‘Tackle Maths’ a joint programme between Scottish Building Society and Edinburgh Rugby has now been delivered to over 1,000 children, helping to develop maths skills and get more pupils active.
Launched just over two years, the programme helps pupils aged between eight and 12 gain practical maths skills by using rugby and real-life examples to show how the subject factors into all elements of everyday life.
The milestone was reached as students from Broughton Primary School in Leith attended Hive Stadium to take part.
Seeing students apply maths outside of the classroom, from measuring the length of a rugby pitch, to working out the capacity of a stadium and estimating the height of the posts, the programme is designed to encourage pupils to think about maths lessons in a different way.
As well as gaining practical guidance, Tackle Maths sessions see students explore the world of rugby also, being treated to tours of Hive Stadium, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, the Scotland Team dressing room and the Scottish Rugby shop as part of the programme.
Paul Denton, chief executive, Scottish Building Society said: “When we started Tackle Maths our aim was to help at least 175 children get to grips with maths.
“Just over two years later it is incredible to have massively surpassed this, providing a thousand children across the country with a practical learning environment which shows why maths is important to their everyday lives.
“As a mutual organisation giving back to communities is incredibly important to us and this programme is a fantastic way of inspiring kids to think differently about learning.”
Douglas Struth, managing director, Edinburgh Rugby said: “Edinburgh Rugby is at its heart a community rugby club. That’s why working in partnership with Scottish Building Society to deliver this programme makes perfect sense.
“This programme is all about getting kids out of the classroom and learning in a practical manner. Having helped 1,000 children across the country to get excited about maths, we’re pleased to say it’s worked to great effect and look forward to supporting many more in the future.”
Melanie Bertram, a teacher from Broughton Primary said: “For many children, learning comes easier when they’re able to apply lessons in a real-life situation and a fun environment.
“Tackle Maths is perfect in this regard, giving them an experience which showcases how important maths is.
“A huge thank you to Edinburgh Rugby and Scottish Building Society for working with us to launch a brilliant and educational initiative.”
For more information, visit: https://www.scottishbs.co.uk/
