Newly released Freedom of Information (FOI) data has exposed a staggering disparity between the lean, passion-driven success of Scots language education and the corporate “tax” levied on schools by the English-language drama industry.

For a total production and distribution cost of just £2,000, the Scottish Government facilitated the delivery of 1,000 copies of the play series Auchtermichty Aw-Stars to approximately 100 schools free of charge. This investment is a masterclass in fiscal efficiency, achieved primarily because the authors at Scots Hoose Yaldi—motivated by cultural passion rather than private profit—waived the massive creative development fees that typically line the pockets of commercial shareholders.

While a Scots school can now stage a production for the price of the paper it’s printed on, schools opting for standard English plays are forced to navigate an eye-watering gauntlet of commercial licensing fees, performance royalties of up to 15% of ticket sales, and script hire costs that can exceed £600 per term.

The current reliance on the “shoestring” budget of £650,000 for the entire country highlights a system built on the goodwill of creators rather than robust institutional support.

With the Scottish Languages Act now establishing Scots as an official language, there is a powerful case for a radical shift in how we fund our national culture. We should be demanding that 30% of the national drama budget be specifically ring-fenced for Scots to move beyond a volunteer-led model and foster a truly dynamic, competitive market.

By investing properly in high-quality Scots learning materials, plays, and books, Scotland can ensure that its native languages are no longer treated as budget afterthoughts but as central, flourishing components of a modern education system that serves students rather than private English-language media shareholders.