Scottish education cash boost

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has announced that millions of pounds will be spent increasing access to further education, which may interest those seeking teaching jobs.

Extra funding worth £555 million will be split between 43 colleges, with the aim of promoting growth in areas that have the lowest participation.

SFC chairman John McClelland said: "I am particularly pleased that we have been able to allocate substantial funding towards widening and increasing equity of access to Scotland's world-class education system."

The windfall will allow colleges to provide more help to students who need support with their living and study costs, with a £72 million grant set aside for bursaries, childcare and discretionary funding.

However, the Scotsman newspaper has reported that only five colleges have been allocated enough money to increase the number of teaching hours and places for students.

The SFC allocates more than £1.6 billion a year to Scotland's 43 colleges and 19 universities.