Glasgow Council among eight to offer meals for S1-S3 pupils
The Scottish Greens have praised the announcement after securing funding for the trial in budget deliberations with the Scottish Government in February.
Free school meals are currently offered to all pupils between P1 and P5, as well as students in P6 and P7 who receive the SCP.
Last September, the government dropped plans to ensure universal free school meals for all primary aged pupils.
Ross Greer of the Scottish Greens. (Image: PA) Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer MSP said: 'Thousands of young people will now get a free school meal through our pilot programme. Children can't learn if they are hungry and we know that free meals can have a transformative impact on their success at school.
'The Scottish Greens have always championed universal free school meals, and that is why we brought this proposal to the table during budget negotiations. It builds on our previous work to expand free school meals in P4-7, which is already helping tens of thousands of children.
'These eight areas are just the start. Green MSPs will now push for this programme to be expanded to every other council as soon as possible and eventually, for every pupil from early years right up to S6 to receive a free school meal.'
Charities have previously heralded the expansion of the scheme.
When the funding was secured in January, Stephanie Slater, Founder and Chief Executive at School Food Matters, said:
'We are encouraged to see the Scottish government continue to extend free school meals to secondary students who need it most. It continues to pave the way for what's possible in free school meal provision and we urge MPs in England to consider implementing these changes further south.'
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