At Breadalbane Academy we believe every child should have the opportunity to fully participate in school life, regardless of financial circumstances. We understand that the cost of uniforms, trips, events, and activities can sometimes create barriers for families.

Our commitment is to make school experiences inclusive and accessible for all. By reducing or removing costs wherever possible, we aim to ensure that every student can engage in learning and enrichment opportunities without worry.

Together, we can create a school environment where no child misses out because of money.

Free School Meals

Free school meals are offered to ALL pupils in Primary 1 to Primary 5, and pupils attending a special school, without the need for parents/carers to submit an application form. 

Free School Meals for Children Primary 6 to S6

Parents can claim free school meals if they are receiving:

• Income support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Universal Credit with a monthly earned income of not more than £850

If you are aged 16 to 18 years and receive any of these benefits in your own right, you can claim free school meals for yourself.

From 17 March 2025, families of Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils who are not currently eligible for free school meals, but who are in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment will now be eligible for free school meals. You can claim free school meals for Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils by submitting an online application form and providing proof of your Scottish Child Payment

For more information on Free school meals: Free school meals and school clothing grants – primary and secondary – Perth & Kinross Council

School Uniform

As a school we aim to keep costs as low as possible for families and have therefore put the following in place:

• Our uniform is set for both Primary and Secondary and is easily accessible colours (navy in Primary and black Secondary).
• We do have branded uniform but are very clear with parents / carers that this is not necessarily required, and uniform can be purchased from any supermarket or high street store.
• We have a stock of spare uniform that we issue to pupils who turn up without uniform. When returned to the school office they are washed and ironed ready to be loaned out again.
• We have spare PE kits available for young people to help themselves to if required – this is for them to keep.
• We have trainers and other footwear available for young people to borrow if required.
• Funding from local groups to purchase BA PE tops so all new S1 cohort have a kit, and they are the same as their peers

Funding is also available through the council for a school clothing grant. You can apply for a grant if you are receiving:

• Income support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Universal Credit with a monthly earned income of not more than £850

For more information on the clothing grant: Free school meals and school clothing grants – primary and secondary – Perth & Kinross Council

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

EMA is a weekly allowance of £30, paid every two weeks in arrears directly into the young person’s bank account. If you do not currently have a bank account, you will need to open one in order to receive payment.

EMA may be available to young people who are either in full‑time education or taking part in Learning Agreements after reaching the statutory school‑leaving age of 16. Awards are based on total household taxable income, with the following thresholds:

• Up to £24,421 for households with one dependent child
• Up to £26,884 for households with two or more dependent children

Eligibility for EMA

• You must have 100% attendance of your agreed timetable at school.
• You should be taking part in a learning agreement if you have left school and are engaging with a Next Step Coach at a base.
• In the academic session 2025 to 2026, your date of birth must fall on or between 1 March 2006 and 28 February 2010.

For more information or to apply: Education Maintenance Allowance – Perth & Kinross Council

Scottish Child Payment

The Scottish Child Payment is for parents or carers on low incomes who have a child under 16. It’s a payment of £27.15 a week for each child under 16. It’s paid every 4 weeks by Social Security Scotland. Apply online here: Scottish Child Payment – Citizens Advice

School Supplies

Stationery

No supplies required in Primary as all stationery and jotters are provided by the school

Secondary

• Stationery can be provided for those who require it e.g., pens, pencils, paper, calculators – these can be loaned or purchased.
• Jotters and reading books provided to young people in each department when required.
• School has funded resource packs for the Art department loan to young people – packs provide essential art materials required to complete projects as part of the coursework at home.
• Calculators are available for young people to borrow in Maths

Practical Lessons

There are no charges for practical subject activities including Home Economics, Craft and Design, Drama and Art.

Free Period Products for Everyone Who Needs Them

No one should have to pay for essential items. Period products can be expensive, and the Scottish Government is committed to reducing this financial pressure by funding local authorities to provide free period products in schools and community spaces.

At Breadalbane we make these products available to anyone who needs them—discreetly and without judgment.

You’ll find free period products in bathrooms located throughout the school and campus areas.

School Trips

At Breadalbane we try to ensure all our school trips are not prohibitive for our young people and therefore plan carefully to ensure all trips are inclusive for all and have the following measures in place:

• We have a hardship fund that can be used to assist parents and to ensure no pupil is unable to take part.
• We have a transport fund, thanks to grants and donations to reduce the high travel cost for transport due to our rural location.
• Breadalbane Guarantee activities are heavily subsidised by the school to reduce cost.
• For many trips parents are informed the trip is heavily subsidised by the school, but if they wish to donate towards the cost of the trip, they may do – but there is no expectation from the school
  • School always encourages parents to discuss any financial barriers they may feel are in place to prevent their child from taking part.
• As a school, we do not want to prevent a young person from attending a trip due to the cost and will always work with the parent to overcome any perceived barriers.

Transport

• We cover the cost of travel for all pupils who are competing for the school.
• We have a transport fund, thanks to grants and donations from the PC, PKC, Basil Death etc. to reduce the high travel cost for transport due to our rural location.
• Funding requests submitted to various groups (e.g., PC, Basil Death) for grants to assist in keeping down the cost of transport for parent/ carers.
• Encourage all young people to use their NEC card for travel where possible

ICT Equipment Loan Scheme

We have a limited supply of ICT equipment available for pupils to borrow and take home to support their learning.

To ensure the equipment is looked after, pupils and their parent/carer will be asked to sign a User Agreement before borrowing any device. This agreement confirms responsibility for caring for the equipment during the loan period and the return of the equipment when they leave school.

If you would like to discuss this further or request a device, please contact your child’s Guidance Teacher.

NEC Card (Young Scot)

The National Entitlement Card (NEC) can be used across many different services including as a bus pass, library card and Young Scot card. The national travel scheme provides free bus travel Scotland-wide for older people, disabled people and under 22-year-olds.

The National Entitlement Card (NEC) in Perth and Kinross delivers the following services:

• Free bus travel for Under 22s
• Free or concessionary travel for 60+ and disabled people including mental health conditions (mental illness, mental disorder and personality disorder)
• Young Scot (if you are aged 11 to 26 your card carries the PASS hologram and Euro Under 26 brand giving proof of age and local, national, and international discounts)
• Schools (all PKC secondary schools issue an NEC for cashless catering)
• Library (use your card at your local library or at school)
• Voluntary proof of age
• If you are aged 16-18, or a full-time volunteer under the age of 26 the Young Scot NEC gives a 1/3 discount off the adult single fare on most local and long-distance buses in Scotland and discount on rail journeys and season tickets.

Due to our very rural location, the NEC card is very valuable to families in keep ng the cost of travel low, especially for pupils attending after school activities. If your child does not already have you can apply here: getyournec.scot

For anyone struggling with the application, please contact the school for assistance, alternatively we organise a day in school where staff assist young people and their parents in applying for the NEC cards and having transport entitlement activated to allow free travel.

Cost of living

If you’re finding it difficult to manage the cost of living, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We understand that financial challenges are never your fault, and support is available.

The Council, along with our community partners, may be able to provide assistance to help you through this time.

For more information and guidance, visit Struggling with the cost of living? Help may be available – Perth & Kinross Council

Welfare Rights

Further support is available for families from PKC. For more information on what you could be eligible for, please visit: Benefits and advice – Perth & Kinross Council

Alternatively,  if you would like to speak to someone to discuss your situation or get more advice on the benefits available you can find out how to speak to someone from the Welfare Rights Team here: Contact the Welfare Rights Team – Perth & Kinross Council