"Time to make 'free' education really free" demands CPAG in Scotland
05.09.05

Leading children's charity responds to Pru's Cost of Education Survey

A new survey from the Pru (see note1 below) gives a stark picture of the real costs of state education in Scotland, and, says the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), too many of our worst off children are missing out as a result.

The survey found the total costs of sending your child to a state school in Scotland are over £870 a year, including uniforms, meals, school trips and activities.

"Too many children miss out because their families can't afford these extras. These children 'learn to be poor', protecting their parents from the financial pressures of another school activity instead of benefiting from them," says John Dickie, Head of CPAG in Scotland.

"What's more many parents end up depriving themselves and facing debt so that their children are shielded from the stigma of poverty at school. In a supposedly 'smart, successful Scotland' this is a scandal. Free education should mean free education. The Scottish Executive must act now to get rid of the charges that too often damage children's schooling."

Pru findings strengthen case for universal free school meals.

The Pru found it was school dinners that hit parent's pockets hardest, with the cost per child reaching £380 a year. Yet according to CPAG, leading backers of the Campaign for Free School Meals (see Note 2 below), over 100 000 of Scotland's poorest children don't even get a free school meal. "The Scottish Executive's current free school meals policy isn't working" continued Mr. Dickie. "This survey makes it absolutely clear why we need free school meals for all our school kids".

For further information:
John Dickie, Head of Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland,
Office 0141 552 3656, Mobile 0779 534 0618

Notes:

1. All figures taken from TNS Omnibus carried out on behalf of Prudential between 12 - 14th August 2005 and 19 - 21st August 2005 among a representative sample of 2,000 UK adults of whom 545 were parents with children. Media Enquiries: Natalie Eyles Tel: 0207 150 2206 Mobile: 07887 94018; Steve Colton: 0207 150 3136 Mobile: 07771 531525

2. see www.cpag.org.uk/scotland for more details of the Free School Meals Campaign and CPAG in Scotland's manifesto Ten steps to a society free of child poverty.