SCHOOLS in Inverclyde will receive a cash injection of over £3m to help close the poverty-related attainment gap.

Deputy first minister John Swinney announced this week that nine local authorities and an additional 74 schools across 12 areas will share £50m in funding in 2018-19.

The money has been allocated by the Scottish Attainment Challenge for initiatives targeted at children living in communities affected by high levels of deprivation.

Inverclyde has been allocated £3.5m to help tackle the attainment gap for 2018/19.

Mr Swinney said: “Improving the education and life chances of our children and young people is the defining mission of this government.

“Central to this is the Scottish Attainment Challenge which is supporting hundreds of schools to develop approaches to improve literacy, numeracy and health and well-being that raise attainment and help close the poverty-related gap.

“This investment is starting to make a real impact.

“A recent evaluation of the fund found that three quarters of school heads believe the attainment gap has started to close and almost all expect progress in the next five years.”

The funding boost has been warmly welcomed by Inverclyde Council’s SNP group leader Councillor Chris McEleny.

Cllr McEleny told the Telegraph: “This funding will play a vital role in improving the attainment of young people in Inverclyde.

“This money, on top of the money the council already gets, is making an impact locally.
“The work that is being done in Inverclyde is clearly having a profound overall effect.”