NHS 2018

Recommendations for wider ways to address poverty. Not just schools. Recommendations for cost of school day.

Cii “Achieving Equity Post COVID-19?”

University of Glasgow 2020

Calls for a national evidence base about what works. 
We think this is research. 

Split up into Sectors Early-Primary-Secondary

Focused who is most affected

Poverty Alliance 2021 

Key themes: 

- Not enough data nationally to evaluate performance 
-Strong pockets of good practice but not consistent and evaluated at local, regional and national level

Mowat 2017

We think that this document thinks it is a piece of practice literature!

It is a firm critique of policy but not a policy document itself.

“What Support Works?”

Scottish Government 2018

Very politically driven discussion about what makes a difference. We have given you the money and we are aghast that this is not working!!

Hii “Impact of School Building Closures” 

Scottish Government 2021

List of everything that has been done to try and close the attainment gap.
Heavily political document.
Reads a bit like a pat on the back.
No real evidence of impact - this is a theme through the readings.

Hi “Poverty and Coronavirus in Edinburgh”

Edinburgh Poverty Commission 2020

Highlights problems but very little focus on education.

Poverty Alliance 2021

Research document.
Lack of evidence.

Ci “Closing the Attainment Gap in Scottish Education”

Joseph Rowntree Foundation 2014

Highlighted that schools alone can not fix poverty. This is a pervasive theme in a number of the documents.
Highlighted that the family background matters more than what school they go to.
Carried a lot of weight. Well researched.


“Closing the Attainment Gap – What Can Schools Do?

SPICe 2016

Looks at national and international research. Discusses impact of socio-economic status. 
Again speaks about schools not being able to do this alone. 

Yong Zhao 2016

Critique of the concept of the achievement gap. 
Hits out at idea of a deficit based meritocracy. 
Proposes a strength-based educational paradigm.

Joan Mowat  - School of Education, University of Strathclyde 2017

Critique of the Scottish Government and the policies put in place to address the attainment gap.

Policy can’t be lifted from successful countries or regions into another setting as this doesn’t take account of culture or context.

PISA and OECD evidence used doesn’t take account of culture of context.

Holistic, multi-agency approach targeted at the problem, rather than education and the government throwing money at a problem or quick fixes.

Leadership at all levels and investing in capacity building in staff.

NIF and Scottish Attainment Challenge

NHS 2018 

Key Themes: 

- Impacts of social and physical environments 
- Impacts of parental income 
- Aspirations are shaped by a broad range of influences 
- Importance of relationships and supportive parenting 
- Impacts of Family Structure 
- Impacts of school environment

Some of the limitations: 

-data used was English based - only some Scottish data used - meant to be Scottish perspective. Not enough data to back up claims 
-very general statements 
-Health perspective - more discussion needed with education colleagues 

Executive Summary. Scottish Government 2021
A synthesis of key local, national and international literature, supplemented with local evidence gathered from 54 schools across Scotland.
Findings include key themes from literature and evidence:
- Health and wellbeing support
- Digital infrastructure and connectivity
- Support to parents and families
- Teaching provision and the quality of learning
-  Support for teachers and the wider workforce

Need to intensify support and reduce inequity

List of wonderful things the Scottish govt have done. No note on their effectiveness or uptake. Published a few months before the election. Highly political document.
Next steps are quite generic.