ABSTRACT The poverty-related attainment gap is an internationally recognised problem. It resides within a culture of performativity in which international comparators, underpinned by neo-liberal ideology, drive national policy. This conceptual paper interrogates the relationship between poverty, attainment and children’s mental health and wellbeing to inform public policy and practice in Scotland and beyond. A key theme identified from the analysis of the literature is the nature, quality and strength of social and support networks around schools, families and children. This is contextualised within a discussion of the nature of childhood poverty and mental health in children in Scotland and the response of the Scottish Government. A focus on educational policy and schools alone will not in itself address the poverty-related attainment gap. What is required is a holistic focus on public policy, informed by interdisciplinary research, and a focus on building a strong infrastructure of support around schools, families and communities.

中文翻译：

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探究贫困、成就与心理健康和福祉之间的关系：社交网络和支持的重要性——苏格兰案例研究

摘要 与贫困相关的成就差距是一个国际公认的问题。它存在于一种表演性文化中，在这种文化中，以新自由主义意识形态为基础的国际比较者推动国家政策。这篇概念性论文探讨了贫困、成就与儿童心理健康和福祉之间的关系，为苏格兰及其他地区的公共政策和实践提供信息。从文献分析中确定的一个关键主题是围绕学校、家庭和儿童的社会和支持网络的性质、质量和强度。这是在讨论苏格兰儿童贫困和心理健康的性质以及苏格兰政府的反应中的背景。仅关注教育政策和学校本身并不能解决与贫困相关的成就差距。