One in six UK pupils miss school because of lack of money
A spokesperson for CPAG Scotland said that although Scottish Government policies are 'making a difference', too many young people are still affected by the cost of the school day.
The new report – Priced out of school: how lack of money prevent young people from attending school – has been produced following a survey of 'nationally representative' survey of 1,701 students aged between eleven and eighteen. It highlights issues in areas such as school uniform, food, transport, and school trips as potential drivers of lower attendance.
Researchers identified a significant divide when it comes to missing school over transport costs. Around a third of those who missed school for money-related reasons in England and Wales cited transport costs as a factor, but this figure fell to thirteen percent in Scotland.
Almost half of those who had missed school due to money problems said that this was down to not having 'the correct uniform or kit.' Problems with branded uniform are highlighted as a particular issue, although recent Scottish Government guidance states that schools in this country 'should not include items such as blazers or other branded outerwear as a compulsory part of their uniform policy.'
However, Scottish pupils are still affected by the cost of school uniform. In one of the examples provided in the report, a member of office staff in a Scottish secondary school says: 'We sometimes receive calls to the school to say a certain pupil can't come in today because they maybe only have one uniform and that's in the washing and it's not dry so they'll be off today.'
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A Scottish example is also cited in the section on the cost of school trips, with a secondary student explaining that they are trying to save up to be able to attend a history trip that is 'not going to be less than' £550. Previous Scotland-specific research has highlighted the cost of school trips as a clear barrier for some families.
The report's main recommendation is for the UK government to abolish both the two-child limit and the benefit cap. It also includes calls for an expansion in free school meals, increased assistance with the cost of uniform, and for all young people in the UK to have access to free public transport, as is currently the case in Scotland alone.
Commenting on the research, Kate Anstey, head of education at Child Poverty Action Group, said:
'Children in poverty aren't getting the real deal at school because they don't have money to participate – or even get to the school gates.
'From not being able to afford meals or uniform to poor mental health, lack of money at home means young people are missing school – effectively priced out of the system.
'Government must do more to support living standards for families so kids aren't locked out of learning – including scrapping the two-child limit and expanding eligibility for free school meals.'
John Dickie, Director of Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, told The Herald:
'It's clear from this survey that across the UK, including in Scotland, the costs of school are impacting on attendance with inevitable damage to children's education and wellbeing.
'Action by school communities, councils, and the Scottish government to tackle the costs of the school day are making a difference, with for example free bus travel meaning transport is much less of a barrier than in the rest of the UK.
'But too many young people are still saying that the costs of school trips, uniform and meals have affected their attendance at school.
'It can't be right that families financial circumstances are such a barrier to participation, and we need to see action at every level to both boost family incomes and reduce the costs they face at school.'
A Scottish Government spokesperson said:
'Every child should be able to attend school feeling comfortable, confident, and ready to learn, and we will continue to work with CPAG and other partners to make sure that is the case. The most recent official statistics for 2023-24 showed some welcome improvement in attendance and persistent absence levels, and we are working with Education Scotland and local authorities to identify ways to make further improvements.
'We have increased the School Clothing Grant funding to £14.2 million in 2025-26 to help families that need support with the costs associated with school uniforms, while £8 million has been allocated to local authorities this financial year to support the removal of core curriculum charges.
'Over 230,000 pupils are already receiving free school meals, saving families who take up the offer around £450 per child per year. Work to expand availability to P6-7 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment is underway with COSLA and local authorities, which we estimate will benefit an additional 25,000 pupils. S1-S3 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment in eight local authority areas will also be eligible for free school meals from August. More generally, the Scottish Child Payment will support the families of over 330,000 children in 2025-26 and will keep 40,000 children out of relative poverty this year, according to estimates.
'Nearly half of schools already provide breakfast at the start of the school day and we are providing £3 million to expand access to breakfast clubs, supporting children to get a healthy, nutritious start to their day and helping parents with early drop-off to support employment opportunities.'
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