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YSAttain: Scottish Attainment Challenge National Programmes

YSAttain is one of multiple national programmes funded by Scottish Government to deliver projects that support the national initiatives involved in the Scottish Attainment Challenge. 

The Attainment Scotland Fund invests in a suite of national programmes delivered through third sector and other partner organisations to enhance supports across the system. Each of the four programmes deliver multiple projects in supporting a range of national initiatives such as showcasing youth work’s role in closing the attainment gap, work to address costs of the school day, capturing young people’s views and supporting the virtual school headteacher network. More information can be found below regarding a small selection of each of the projects.

Cost of the School Day project 

The Cost of the School Day project at Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland offers resources and support for schools and local authorities on developing cost of the school day approaches: involving school communities, good practice to reduce costs at school, maximising incomes and supporting children and families on low incomes. 

All Cost of the School Day (CoSD) resources are free and accessible on the CPAG website, and include the Toolkit, Ideas Bank, eLearning and reports and briefings. 

For support and advice contact the team at: costoftheschoolday@cpagscotland.org.uk 

Cost of the School Day Voice is a network which supports children and young people who are keen to take action on costs in their schools and have their voices heard nationally. Any school in Scotland can sign up to the network and create their own Cost of the School Day learner group, to share their views with peers, practitioners and decision makers. Groups receive regular communication and information on great new opportunities and activities, can join termly online meetings to share what’s happening in their settings, network and have fun with other network members. Each term the network also runs a leaders meeting to offer support, share practice and discuss new ideas. Find out what your group could get involved with, and what the network has already done. 

Get in touch: COSDVoice@cpagscotland.org.uk 

YouthLink Scotland  

Alongside schools, youth work improves the wellbeing, readiness to learn and educational outcomes of children and young people. Youth workers support learners in schools and in the wider community. YouthLink Scotland can offer a range of support to schools and youth work teams as part of their Scottish Attainment Challenge National Programme. This includes: advice on using PEF to improve attainment and achievement through youth work; capacity-building support to help establish and sustain effective partnership working between youth work and schools; resources to measure the impact of joint working and a range of case studies and other evidence that demonstrate how youth work can: 

·       Improve learner engagement and attendance. 

·       Offer more personalisation and choice in the curriculum. 

·       Support young people to transition to and sustain positive post-school destinations. 

The team at YouthLink Scotland also provides access to the National Youth Work and Schools Collaborative an online learning community where youth workers and other educators can share ideas and insights from their collaborative practice and contribute to national policy consultations. The network is open to any youth work practitioner and other educators interested in developing collaborative practice with youth work. 

For more information speak to your Attainment Advisor or get in touch here. 

CELCIS-facilitated Virtual School Head Teacher Network in Scotland 

Around half of local authorities across Scotland have established a Virtual School model or created a specific Virtual School Head Teacher position to provide focused support for care experienced children and young people. These roles work strategically within local authorities to improve educational experiences and outcomes for care experienced learners, promoting their achievement as if they were part of a single school. The Virtual School is an organisational framework rather than a physical building, designed to coordinate multiple levels of support for children and young people and those who live with and support them at school and home. 

As of September 2025, 18 local authorities in Scotland had a Virtual School Head Teacher or similar role in post. CELCIS has hosted Scotland's Virtual School Head Teacher Network since 2019, providing a space for professionals to share knowledge, research evidence, good practice, and peer support while working collectively to improve education for all care experienced learners. 

More information: https://www.celcis.org/our-work/key-areas/education/virtual-school-head-teachers 

Virtual School Head Teacher Role Profile 

Developed collaboratively with practitioners, researchers, and policy makers, and published by CELCIS this role profile provides a comprehensive definition for the role of a Virtual School Head Teacher work in Scotland. Underpinned by a rights-based approach and commitment to Keep The Promise, the profile offers practical guidance to support local authorities in implementing consistent, high-quality support for care experienced children, young people, and their families. 

Read the role profile: A role profile for a Virtual School Head Teacher in Scotland