South Lanarkshire is one of eight councils to be part of a pilot scheme as part of the next phase of the Scottish Government’s Free School Meals Programme.

During the 2025-26 school year, pupils in S1-3 in selected South Lanarkshire schools who qualify for the Scottish Child Payment will receive the free meals.

Council leader Joe Fagan said: “I welcome the news that hundreds of pupils across South Lanarkshire will be able to receive this vital assistance. Extending free school meals to pupils in need in our secondary schools is an ambition of our council and this pilot can help us realise it.

“It means that we will now be able to open the option of healthy and nutritious school meals to more young people each day of the school year, and we will be working with the Scottish Government to finalise this and let eligible families apply in time for the new school year.”

The council will release further details of the schools involved and how the pilot will operate once the Scottish Government has finalised its plan for the pilot.