FREE school meals eligibility will be expanded to secondary-aged pupils in Scotland.
Youngsters between S1 and S3 whose family receive Scottish Child Payment (SCP) will be eligible for free school meals across eight local authorities from August until July 2026, following the introduction of The Test of Change phase into the Free School Meals programme.
The change will happen in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Fife, Moray, North Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Shetland and the Western Isles, after an expansion campaign by the Scottish Greens.
Ross Greer, Scottish Greens spokesperson for education, said: “Thousands of young people will now get a free school meal through our pilot programme. Children can't learn if they are hungry and we know that free meals can have a transformative impact on their success at school.
“The Scottish Greens have always championed universal free school meals, and that is why we brought this proposal to the table during budget negotiations. It builds on our previous work to expand free school meals in P4-7, which is already helping tens of thousands of children.
“These eight areas are just the start. Green MSPs will now push for this programme to be expanded to every other council as soon as possible and eventually, for every pupil from early years right up to S6 to receive a free school meal.”
Scottish Green MSPs previously secured the expansion of universal free school meals to P4 and P5 pupils, as well as the ongoing expansion to P6 and P7 pupils who receive the SCP.
Figures from earlier this year showed that almost £3 million worth of school meal debt was written off in Scotland across 29 local authorities through a national fund, with Aberdeen benefiting the most with £400,000 of debt wiped by the fund.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth told The National:
“We are pleased to announce the eight local authorities who will benefit from this next phase of our Free School meals programme. Our commitment to free school meals is helping to eradicate child poverty, with 230,000 pupils in Scotland already benefitting.
"Our offering saves eligible families who take up the offer around £450 per child per year.
“We are continuing to finalise the plans to expand eligibility to S1-S3 pupils in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment across these eight local authority areas. As part of this, we are working with these councils to understand how many children in total will benefit.
"The Scottish Government will announce further details in due course.”
Members of the SNP also welcomed the new phase, calling it a "key part" of the party's mission to end child poverty.
MSP David Torrance added: “This is a milestone moment in the SNP’s drive to create a fairer, more equal Scotland, where no child goes hungry at school and every family gets a little more breathing space in the face of rising living costs.
“The SNP are proud to be working hand in hand with councils across Scotland to deliver this expansion, recognising the vital role they play in supporting young people in our communities.
"I am proud that Fife will be one of the councils to benefit. This new initiative will mean thousands more children benefit from a healthy, free school meal.
“While Labour imposes austerity and deepens inequality from Westminster, the SNP is taking real, practical steps to reduce poverty and promote wellbeing. Free school meals are about more than food; they’re about dignity, equality and opportunity."
