FREE school meals for children is a key part in the Scottish Government’s “national mission” to end child poverty, the First Minister said as he announced more families will be able to benefit from them after the summer holidays.
The Scottish Government is investing £3 million in a trial phase which will extend the provision of free school meals to S1 to S3 pupils who receive the Scottish child payment.
More than 6000 secondary school students will be eligible for the meals from the start of the next school year – taking the total of youngsters who can claim a free lunch to more than 360,000.
The latest phase of the project will see lunches being provided for eligible students in almost 60 schools in eight local authority areas – Aberdeen, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (the Western Isles), Fife, Glasgow, Moray, North Ayrshire, Shetland and South Lanarkshire from August 2025.
The impact of this trial will be independently reviewed, with the Scottish Government adding that the results of this would help with the future development of any further phases of the free school meal programme.
First Minister John Swinney highlighted the advantages of the scheme as he visited Springburn Academy in Glasgow, where some 140 pupils could benefit.
Swinney said: “The free school meals programme is key in our national mission to eradicate child poverty, which saves families who take up the offer around £450 per eligible child per year.
“This next phase of the rollout will ensure that this offer is available to more families across the country.
“We know the positive impact that access to a healthy and nutritious meal can have on a pupil’s learning and achievement in school.
“This demonstrates how important the programme is in our efforts to close the poverty-related attainment gap in Scotland, ensuring that every child is given an opportunity to succeed in education regardless of their background.”
Swinney added: “The Scottish Government will also continue its broader support to tackle the cost of the school day, including our £14.2 million school uniform clothing grant and our investment in the £1 billion Scottish attainment challenge.”
How many Scottish families get free school meals?
In Scotland, more than 273,000 pupils receive free school meals.
The initiative is part of the Scottish Government's ambition to eradicate child poverty.
The expansion of free school meals includes all pupils in P1 to P5 and those in P6 and P7 who receive the Scottish Child Payment.
