The introduction of Universal Credit and the effects of the economic crisis precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, compounded by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have all contributed to a rise in the levels of poverty and child poverty in Scotland and the wider United Kingdom. The rise in child poverty will have an impact on an increasing number…

Within the social sciences, the term equity has a helpful and precise meaning -- referring to a differentiated response to an individual's distinct needs or circumstances. However, since the 2000s 'equity' has been recontextualised within national and international education policymaking as a generic term. This recontextualisation has led to…

Some prominent theorists and philosophers of education recently offered their reflections on the ongoing crisis. In this article, the authors want to address structural inequality in the Scottish context: the oft-decried attainment gap. Promises to deliver educational equity in Scotland by closing the attainment gap have seldom looked as hollow as…

Leadership has been identified in contemporary policy as a critical factor in taking forward school improvement and enhancing outcomes for pupils (Pontz, Nusche and Moorman, 2008) in many educational systems including Scottish education. A second policy driver in Scottish education currently is focused on "closing the gap" (Scottish…

The "gender gap" in attainment is an issue in Scotland but is also an international phenomenon. In Scotland, this gap continues to be apparent as girls outperform boys in national examinations. This raises challenges for those working in schools and for policymakers in responding to this phenomenon. This article focuses on appraising…