BORDERS schools are set to receive more than £2 million from the Scottish Government in an attempt to close the poverty-related attainment gap.

The government published each council area’s allocation – along with how much individual schools will receive – on Friday, May 21.

An Audit Scotland report in March stated that the attainment gap between the most and least deprived children in the Borders is wider than any other council area in Scotland.

The funding – which will see the Borders receive £2,157,430 in 2021/22 – is based on the number of pupils from P1 to S3 who are eligible and registered for free school meals.

The sum represents the funding allocated plus a 15 per cent top up taken from the £20 million pupil equity fund premium.

READ MORE: Linda McCall assaults: Inquiry to look at council's handling of complaints

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Pupil equity funding is money that will go to your child’s school to help them provide the best possible opportunities for children’s learning.

“In particular, it is there to help the school support children who experience barriers to learning and who might be falling behind or not getting the same chances in their education because their family is experiencing poverty or other financial difficulties.”

According to the government, pupil equity funding “is to be spent at the discretion of the head-teacher working in partnership with each other and their local authority”.

The Borders school getting the most funding is Hawick’s Burnfoot Community School which is set to receive £167,669.

The high school receiving the highest proportion of the allocation is Hawick High School, set to get £112,718.

Meanwhile, Peebles High School is set to receive £54,528 from the funding pot, according to the government figures, while Galashiels Academy is in line to get £90,175.

Among the primary schools in Galashiels, Glendinning Terrace Primary School (£14,090), Burgh Primary School (£49,314), Balmoral Primary School (£35,225) and St Peter's Primary School (£47,905) will get some of the extra cash.

In Peeblesshire, Kingsland Primary School, Peebles, is in line to get £53,541, while Innerleithen’s St Ronan’s Primary School will pocket £39,311.

READ MORE: Borders MP responds to fears that farmers would be hurt by UK-Australia deal

Biggar’s Broughton Central Primary School (£13,949), Peebles’ Halyrude Primary School (£15,217) and Priorsford Primary School (£36,774) will all benefit, as well as West Linton Primary School (£8,454) and Newlands Primary School (£8,454).

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson said: “We welcome the latest allocation of pupil equity funding.

“Each of our schools has a plan to ensure that the funding is used to the very best effect in meeting the specific needs of the children and young people as part of their ongoing commitment to raising attainment and closing the poverty related attainment gap.”

The government figures show that more than £146 million of funding will be given to local authorities across Scotland in an attempt to make “education fairer”.

Find out how much your school will receive by looking at the figures here.