This latest report deepens the understanding of how Pupil Equity Funding is improving outcomes for children and young people impacted by poverty, with a focus on tackling the poverty-related attainment gap. 

Education Scotland and Scottish Government staff engaged with 129 schools across all 32 local authorities to better understand how Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) is being used. We undertook this engagement in order to share the outstanding work taking place in our schools and communities, supported by PEF, with other headteachers, local authorities and key stakeholders, and how that work is improving the educational outcomes of children and young people/families impacted by poverty.

To accompany this report, we are planning a series of Ministerial school visits and events with headteachers and practitioners, to raise the profile of the good practice we have seen in our schools and to promote peer to peer learning between schools and local authorities. We are drawing upon this evidence to help inform plans for 2025/26, and the learning from this work will also, alongside ongoing engagement with headteachers, local authorities and stakeholders, help inform options for what any future national policy approaches to closing the poverty-related attainment gap may look like from 2026 onwards.

Headteachers and local authorities can continue to access ongoing advice and guidance from the team of Education Scotland Attainment Advisors to maximise improved outcomes for children and young people using their Pupil Equity Funding and other SAC funding.

PDF file: Pupil Equity Funding - 2025 Report (2 MB)