What steps it will take to promote and encourage recruitment into the teaching profession.

The agreement, A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century, reached in February this year paves the way for a far reaching framework of modernisation which puts teachers at the heart of education.Today I was pleased to launch the first ever national recruitment campaign in Scotland. The first stage of this two-stage campaign is aimed at raising the profile and standing of teachers in our communities. The second phase will be aimed at encouraging talented people to choose teaching as a profession. The campaign is unique both in its national coverage and also in the strength of support it has received from parents, teacher organisations, employers and all those in the profession. It will undoubtedly increase the numbers of Scotland's brightest and best entering the teaching profession and I am grateful to all those who have worked with us in putting the first steps in place.