The Scottish Government's scheme to give a free backpack to every child starting primary school will cost almost £3 million over the next two years, Education Secretary Mairi McAllan has confirmed.
The "Welcome to School Bags" were a key giveaway announced in the SNP's 2026 election manifesto, but critics have questioned their benefits. The Government has faced further questions after it was reported that all of the backpacks will be manufactured in China and not the UK.
Contract and contents
Marketing firm APS Group has been handed the contract to assemble and distribute the school bags, which include essentials such as stationery and a water bottle.
McAllan said the Government wanted to "ensure children start school on an equal footing". The announcement comes just weeks after the latest Pisa international report, which compares pupil performance around the world, found attainment in core subjects continues to decline in Scots schools and lags far behind those in England.
Minister's statement
"Excellence and equity is my principal ambition for education, and providing every new P1 pupil with a high-quality bag is part of our wider work to remove barriers for all at the very start of their school journey," McAllan said.
"Building on the success of our universal Baby Box offer, we want to ensure children start school on an equal footing and with a feeling that they belong.
"As well as being available in five colours, children will have the option of adding a drawing to personalise their Welcome to School Bag, to help them start school excited and with all the essentials for their first steps into the classroom.
"These will be delivered in time to be given to children during their transition visits, when the new intake go into primary schools ahead of the summer holidays to get to know their new class."
Criticism from opposition
The Government estimates about 47,000 pupils will start school across the country in the 2027-28 academic year.
Scottish Tory education spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher said: "The SNP's latest education policy is a gimmick that is full of colour but totally lacking in substance.
"It was a desperate election stunt from John Swinney and his colleagues who are now happy to squander £1.35 million a year on giving backpacks to young people.
"This is taxpayers' money that should be going towards tackling the attainment gap and restoring Scotland's reputation for educational excellence.
"After nearly two decades in power, SNP ministers are still prioritising flashy giveaways over fixing Scotland's broken education system.
"Parents don't need colourful backpacks and political gimmicks. They need SNP ministers that focus on the real issues facing our pupils and delivers better results for their children."
Child poverty context
A report published earlier this month warned there is an "increasing disconnect" between rhetoric from Nationalist politicians on child poverty and the often grim reality facing families.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation annual report on the issue found that 21 per cent of Scots youngsters are in poverty, despite John Swinney's pledge to eradicate it entirely. It also warned that without "radical change", Scotland will miss its legally binding target to cut relative child poverty to below 10 per cent by 2030/31 by a "wide margin".
