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xScottish Government expands free school meals programme
Date: 22nd July 2025
Category:
General measures of implementation, Family Environment and Alternative Care
More than 6,000 high school students across Scotland are set to benefit from free school meals starting next school year, as part of the Scottish Government's initiative to tackle child poverty.
The pilot phase of this programme will provide nutritious meals to S1 to S3 pupils who receive the Scottish Child Payment. Selected schools in eight local authority areas, including Aberdeen, Fife, and Glasgow, will participate, bringing the total number of pupils receiving free meals in Scotland to over 360,000.
A £3 million investment will support nearly 60 schools in areas such as Aberdeen, Fife, and Shetland from August 2025. First Minister John Swinney announced the expansion during a visit to Springburn Academy in Glasgow, potentially benefiting an additional 140 pupils.
The First Minister said:
“The free school meals programme is key in our national mission to eradicate child poverty, which saves families who take up the offer around £450 per eligible child per year. This next phase of the rollout will ensure that this offer is available to more families across the country”.
Earlier this year, our member Aberlour children charity released a report highlighting the growing problem of school meal debt. The report stated that no child should face hunger or be denied a meal due to debt, calling it unfair and harmful. It described school meal debt as a sign that families are struggling to afford food both at home and at school. Aberlour’s findings revealed that in 2023, over 30,000 children in Scotland had school meal debt totalling £1.8 million. By 2024, this had risen to £2.8 million. The report says the only way to truly end school meal debt and hidden hunger is to extend free meals to all low-income families, starting with those receiving the Scottish Child Payment.
Together welcome this announcement by the Scottish Government calling it an important step in improving the wellbeing of children and young people across Scotland. The move also supports recent recommendations from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, which urged the UK Government to expand free school meal access and strengthen nutrition support in schools and communities.