Moore to speak at former school

Nov 9 2012

The Scottish Secretary is going back to his old school to help launch a charity initiative.

Michael Moore will be speaking to pupils at Jedburgh Grammar School, in the Borders, this morning as part of the Speakers for Schools scheme.

First Minister Alex Salmond will also be addressing pupils at Bucksburn Academy, in Aberdeen, under the initiative which will see high-profile figures from politics, business, the arts and the media speaking to school children across the country.

The idea for the project came from BBC business editor Robert Peston who wants young people from all backgrounds to be able to hear from the kind of inspirational speakers who often visit the top private schools.

Those taking part in the launch in Scotland include Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan, STV chief executive Rob Woodward, Professor Muffy Calder, the Chief Scientific Officer, and Edinburgh International Book Festival director Nick Barley.

Other senior politicians are also taking part, such as Labour shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander, Scottish Labour's deputy leader Anas Sarwar and Education Secretary Michael Russell.

Mr Moore said: "It is 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."

Mr Peston said he is "thrilled that so many great speakers are participating in Speakers for Schools's Scottish launch". He said: "Our future prosperity depends in part on raising aspirations for young people which can be helped by securing access for them to brilliant and inspirational minds."