Secretary of State launches Speakers for Schools for Scotland
The Secretary of State's talk to pupils at Jedburgh Grammar School helped launch Speakers for Schools in Scotland
Michael Moore helped launch the Charity Speakers for Schools in Scotland today, when he gave a talk to around 100 pupils at his former school Jedburgh Grammar in the Scottish Borders.
The charity will hold a series of talks in state secondary schools around the country and leaders in Scottish business, media culture, academia and politics have pledged to give a talk to students in a state secondary school once a year to raise aspirations and broaden horizons.
It is the idea of BBC Business Editor, Robert Peston, who wants young people in state schools and colleges to have the same opportunities to hear from inspirational speakers as those who attend top independent schools. The idea is to level the playing field and for it to become the norm for leaders in their fields to give talks in state schools and colleges. Speakers for Schools was launched in England in October 2011 and is administered by small charity the Education and Employers Taskforce.
The Minister said: “It was a great honour to give one of Scotland’s first Speakers for School talks, and I am sure we can build on the success of this great initiative elsewhere in the UK. I am particularly happy to help launch the charity at Jedburgh Grammar School - where I was at school - in my own Borders constituency. Young people today face many challenges and in a world full of uncertainties it is essential we give them the benefit of our collective experience to help guide their decisions for the future. The list of speakers is both distinguished and broad and I have no doubt pupils across Scotland will benefit from the advice on offer.”