Pupils in a classroom
THE Scottish government is facing calls to boost school funding as the number of pupils with additional support needs double to an all-time high while specialist teachers fall to a new low.
Looking at Scotland’s pupil census, the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition (SCSC) found 40.5 per cent of young Scots now had an additional support need.
The numbers more than doubled between 2014 and 2024 from 140,000 to over 284,000, despite specialist teachers falling from 3,077 to 2,837.
With 12,000 fewer teachers since 2010 and dwindling resources, Scotland’s schools desperately need investment to support diverse learners rather than empty promises from politicians, writes ANDREA BRADLEY
With 170,000 children living in poverty in north-east England and teachers leaving in droves over 20 per cent real-terms pay cuts since 2010, all while private companies siphon off billions, it is time to unite and fight for education, writes MATT WRACK
