19 February 2018

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited Levenvale Primary School in West Dunbartonshire to see the difference being made by the Pupil Equity Fund (PEF).

The fund – £120 million in this year’s draft budget – is there to give schools additional resources to raise attainment levels.

FM @NicolaSturgeon visited Levenvale Primary in West Dunbartonshire to see the Pupil Equity Fund in action #PEFScot18 https://t.co/MuAVdSAd4i pic.twitter.com/ckB2ArJZqf

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) February 19, 2018

Levenvale has used PEF to recruit an additional teacher to improve literacy through Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) projects. They have given extra support to parents to help improve vocabulary development in their children, including parent and child book clubs and providing residential weekends for around 20 families.

It's a very special #PEFScot18 example today ? FM @NicolaSturgeon visited Levenvale Primary School in @WDCouncil to see some of the work they are doing, including improving literacy through STEM projects and increasing vocabulary through book clubs ???? https://t.co/knkRPGATlC

— Engage for Education (@engagefored) February 19, 2018

The First Minister said:

“The number one priority of this government is to raise school attainment, particularly in less advantaged areas.

“To help achieve this we have committed £120 million to our Pupil Equity Fund this year. This additional money is available to head teachers to address some of the specific issues that might be affecting attainment in their schools.

“The work I have seen at Levenvale Primary is a perfect example of this. By looking carefully at their own unique circumstances, they have created their own solutions – in particular by recruiting specialist staffing and providing extra support to parents.”