Cost of the school day

Whose voice did we hear?

We heard from young people aged 12–16 from across Aberdeenshire, including Peterhead, Inverurie, Huntly and Kemnay. The work was supported by youth groups and led by young people who wanted to make change within their own schools.

Why were we asking about this?

Young people raised concerns about the cost of the school day and how this affected them and their peers. They wanted to better understand shared challenges across Aberdeenshire and explore realistic ways to reduce costs within schools.

What did we hear?

Young people shared that:

• The cost of the school day can be a high for some pupils.
• Similar issues were being experienced by young people in different areas.
• Small, practical changes within schools could make a real difference.

They showed confidence, motivation and a strong sense of ownership over the ideas and solutions they developed.

What did we do with the voices we heard?

Young people took their ideas forward by:

• Discussing solutions within their youth groups.
• Inviting decision makers to focus group discussions.
• Speaking directly with teachers and school staff to help make positive changes happen.

This supported young people to influence decisions and contribute to reducing the cost of the school day in meaningful, achievable ways.

For more information about this work, contact:

Rachel Lewis, Youth Engagement Worker
Email: Rachel.Lewis@aberdeenshire.gov.uk