SCORES of primary and secondary schools in West Dunbartonshire are to benefit from a multi-million pound scheme from the Scottish Government to help raise attainment levels.

Three secondary schools in Dumbarton are to receive more than £300,000 in funding, while more than 30 primary schools across the region will net a share of nearly £2.4m.

The funding comes from the Scottish Government’s new £120 million Pupil Equity Funding scheme.

And it spells good news for Dumbarton Academy, Our Lady and St Patrick's High and Vale of Leven Academy, who will all receive a share of the cash boost.

Dumbarton Academy is to receive £52,800, while Our Lady and St Patrick's is to receive £120,000 and Vale of Leven Academy will get £177,600.

It's also understood that special schools operating in West Dunbartonshire will benefit from the scheme to the tune of £73,200.

The announcement of the funding boost came from Deputy First Minister John Swinney.

More than 2,300 schools across Scotland will receive additional support worth thousands of pounds, to be spent at the discretion of teachers and school leaders to close the poverty related attainment gap in their schools.

Mr Swinney said: "I want every child in Scotland to have the best possible start in life, and it is unacceptable for children from the poorest backgrounds to have their chances limited by circumstances outside their control.

"This Government has made clear our priority is to close the poverty-related attainment gap and our new £120 million Pupil Equity Funding is aimed at doing just that.

"We are providing additional ring-fenced funding which will enable individual schools to target support where it is needed the most.

"The allocations I am announcing will let parents, teachers and school leaders see how much funding their schools will receive in 2017-18 to help break the inter-generational cycle of deprivation.

"The Pupil Equity Funding is on top of the existing £50 million Attainment Scotland funding and in addition to the action being taken by this Government to raise standards for all and make the improvements that are necessary to make Scottish education world-class."

Primary schools in West Dunbartonshire to receive funding are as follows: Aitkenbar Primary School (£75,600), Bonhill Primary School (£70,800), Braehead Primary School Primary (£60,000),Christie Park Primary School (£69,600), Clydemuir Primary School (£97,200), Dalreoch Primary School (£25,200), Edinbarnet Primary School (£158,400),

Gavinburn Primary School (£40,800), Goldenhill Primary School (£45,600), Haldane Primary School (£64,800), Jamestown Primary School (£46,800), Kilbowie Primary School (£154,800), Knoxland Primary School (£33,600), Lennox Primary School (£148,800), Levenvale Primary School (£57,600), Linnvale Primary School (£96,000), Our Holy Redeemer's Primary School (£123,600), Our Lady of Loretto Primary School (£133,200), Renton Primary School (£103,200), St Eunan's Primary School (£170,400), St Joseph's Primary School (£103,200), St Kessog's Primary School (£43,200),

St Martin's Primary School (£28,800), St Mary's Primary School (Alexandria) (£60,000), St Mary's Primary School (Duntocher) (£54,000), St Michael's Primary School (£146,400), St Patrick's Primary School (£37,200), St Peter's Primary School (£46,800), St Ronan's Primary School (£30,000), St Stephen's Primary School (£56,400), Whitecrook Primary School (£87,600).

Carleith PS and Gartocharn PS are also to benefit from funding but the figures for both schools have not been confirmed.