Poverty is the single greatest barrier to a child’s attainment in Scotland today. While there is growing consensus on this truth, the gap between political ambition and practical delivery remains. Policy alone cannot close the attainment gap without structural change in how services support families, schools, and communities. Tackling poverty and boosting attainment must therefore be a coordinated national mission that brings together education, health, housing, and local government in practical partnership.
Scotland’s experience in reducing child poverty and raising educational attainment has been shaped by a range of national initiatives, including the Scottish Attainment Challenge, the Scottish Child Payment and the work of local poverty commissions. Despite these efforts, the attainment gap remains persistent and deeply entrenched, particularly for children in SIMD1 areas.
Local authorities and schools often bear the frontline responsibility for delivering both improved attainment and wider support for children in poverty. But limited budgets, high demand, and shifting policy priorities challenge consistency and impact. Communities, too, are looking for agency and voice in shaping local responses.
Increasingly, the importance of integrating services – such as education, housing, health, and family support – is recognised as central to long-term progress. The work of third sector organisations and community groups remains vital in addressing both immediate and generational impacts of poverty.
What is needed now is shared learning, honest reflection, and discussion on the scale of the challenge. This conference brings together national and local stakeholders to examine how current policy is working, what’s holding back progress, and what changes are required to truly close the gap between children’s potential and their circumstances.
The conference will focus on three themes:
Topics to be discussed
Who Should Attend
This conference will be relevant for anyone participating in education and related disciplines involved in addressing the attainment and poverty gap. This includes teachers and teaching assistants, school leaders, education departments, social work staff, third sector organisations, academics, crime prevention and inclusion specialists, child mental health and related medical specialists and anyone working in fields related to child well-being.
Presenter, Trainer, Consultant
The Real David Cameron
Policy, Projects and Participation Manager
Children in Scotland
David Cameron
Presenter, Trainer, Consultant
The Real David Cameron
The Present
I am a presenter/speaker, trainer, mentor, coach and adviser. I have delivered at conferences at home and abroad, including TEDx Buenos Aires, Northern Rocks and I work with schools throughout the UK and internationally, alongside some of the most influential people and the best practitioners in the world of education and training. You can use the links to access reviews and videos.
I want to make a difference and believe that I can.
The difference that I want to make is ensuring that all young people have an education that brings richness to their lives.
I want them to be able to think for themselves and to be committed to building a better world than the one that they are inheriting. I think that I can do this by helping those working with them to recognise their strengths and to find the energy to build on them.
I want to offer support, perspective, analysis, approaches and tools so that aspirations become ambitions and ambitions become realities, all to the beat of some banging tunes, heartrending videos and a lot of laughter!
The Past
Lest anyone thinks that I am some mere chancer with a line in motivational quotes, here is my professional pedigree. It might not get me to Crufts, but it has served me pretty well.
I was Director of Children’s Services for Stirling Council. Before that I was Head of Education in East Lothian. I have been an Area Manager providing support and challenge to a large group of schools in Fife, Performance Review Manager with overall responsibility for Quality Assurance and, before that an Adviser responsible for curriculum development and assessment.
I worked in schools up to the early ‘90s and have extensive experience in school management at all levels and experience of leading a major national development of curriculum and assessment in Scotland introducing new Standard Grade courses.
I was President of the Association of Directors of Education Scotland and have been involved with a range of national groups, notably on Curriculum for Excellence, Outdoor Education and Looked After Children.
As a consultant, I have supported Midlothian Council in their reorganisation of services to Children and Families and engaged with Skills Development Scotland in a major review of policy procedures and practice. I have since led reviews on class size regulations and arrangements for devolved school management.
Roisin Laing
Policy, Projects and Participation Manager
Children in Scotland
Roisín joined Children in Scotland in October 2024. Her role is to support the children’s sector workforce to improve outcomes for children. This work aligns with Roisín’s commitment to child-centred social justice.
Before joining Children in Scotland, Roisín was an academic researcher, specialising in the history and experiences of Indigenous children in child protection systems. This proactive commitment to children’s rights motivated Roisín’s previous roles in primary education and in childcare in Scotland, England, and Australia.
Roisín has a PhD in nineteenth-century literature, and a PGCE with a specialism in Early Years. Outside work, Roisín enjoys yoga, piano, swimming, and spending time with her husband, her three young children, and her friends.
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