Report will help shape local school policies

This can make pupils feel excluded and in some cases, may have a direct result on their ability to achieve, research has found.

The findings from a unique, year-long pilot project in Glasgow looking at the impact of poverty on the lives of children and young people and their access to education was published last week.

Carried out by the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, the group will unveil the findings and recommendations at a special Inclusion and Equalities conference being organised by the council.

Working with 340 young people and 120 school staff from two learning communities across eight primary and secondary schools in the city, the main aim was to consider the impact of poverty on the school day and the barriers that this can have for some children and young people.

As Stephen Curran, Executive Member for Education and Young People explains: “It is estimated in Glasgow that one in three children are in poverty – affecting almost 36,000 of our children.

“This can result in them feeling excluded from school activities, trips, meals or simply finding it difficult to take part in routine school tasks like submitting homework which requires online access.

“We will try to do everything possible that we can to eliminate the obstacles that poverty can create so that every child in Glasgow can have equal access to a quality education.

“The findings and recommendations of this report will shape future polices in Glasgow

“We have already used the findings of the research to revisit our distance criteria for free school transport in the city to minimise the financial burdens so many face daily.”