Scottish Budget: Additional £70m for colleges as breakfast clubs pledged for all primary schools
Education was a strong focus in this year’s Scottish Budget with an increase of £70 million in college funding
Colleges will benefit from an additional £70 million while breakfast clubs have been promised for every primary and special school.
Shona Robison’s budget set out what amounts to a 10 per cent capital and resource funding increase for colleges from last year’s financial settlement.
The boost is expected to be welcomed by a sector that has lobbied hard for extra support after facing a 20 per cent cut in revenue over the life of the parliament.
While the budget pledge falls short of the £120m to £150m call from Colleges Scotland, it is expected to be welcome breathing space for further education institutions to stabilise.
Gavin Donoghue, CEO of Colleges Scotland said the announcement was “warmly welcomed”.
He said: “After years of funding falling in real terms, this increase will help mitigate some of the sector’s immediate financial pressures in the next academic year, and we hope this marks a step-change in approach to investing in our colleges.
Mr Donoghue also welcomed confirmation from Ms Robison that colleges will be an “instrumental part in delivering whole family support” and lifting people out of poverty.
He said: “We also welcome the recognition of the key role of colleges as part of Scotland’s anti-poverty infrastructure, with an additional £8m projected to be made available to colleges in 2026/27.
“Colleges are anchor institutions in our local communities that provide places of support, hope and opportunity for all, and this funding recognises the position colleges have in helping meet our child poverty targets.”
The budget move was received as a “step in the right direction” by Edinburgh College principal Audrey Cumberford.
However, she warned, there is “still more that needs to be done”.
Ms Cumberford added: “This increase will help to undo some of the damage done by years of real terms cuts, but more is needed if we are to ensure the future sustainability of our sector.
“There is now a clear consensus across the political spectrum for better funding for colleges.
“I would urge parties to continue to work together to make sure we unleash the true potential of our sector so we can continue to drive economic growth and improve the lives of Scots across the country.”
Ms Robison also announced the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Futures Trust would “work with” the college sector on laying out sustainability plans.
Details have not yet been provided, but the finance secretary also promised “continued investment” in apprenticeships, careers advice and adult learning.
A two per cent increase in local authority funding to support improvements including the reduction in teachers’ class contact time and enhanced provision for young people with Additional Support Needs (ASN) were also announced.
Meanwhile, councils are to be funded to provide breakfast clubs in every primary and additional needs school.
There will also be trials of after school extracurricular activity clubs to both help parents with childcare provision and boost children’s health.
To mark the Commonwealth Games returning to Glasgow this year, there are also plans to introduce summer swimming lessons for young people.
Dundee University, which last year was revealed to be in financial crisis, will receive a funding support package for £20m.
Mary Senior, Scotland official for the UCU union, said the budget was “little comfort” to universities.
She said: “Jobs are being lost and educational provision is being cut right now in universities across Scotland.
“With more than half of Scottish universities making staff redundant and reducing educational provision, this budget won’t counter the jobs exodus or end the crisis in Scottish higher education any time soon.”
EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “While we await all of the detail on the Scottish Budget, the finance secretary’s statement in Parliament today did include some significant good news for Scottish education.
“There will be a two per cent increase in local authority funding, which the finance secretary says will support key improvements in education, including the long-promised reduction in teachers’ class contact time to reduce excessive workload and enhancements to provision for young people with Additional Support Needs.
“These are key priorities for Scottish school education, and it is welcome that the Scottish Government is placing an emphasis on these issues.”
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