Today I want to say a big thank you to teachers and, indeed, all school staff for their hard work day in, day out.

The reason I want to do it today is because today is World Teachers Day. That gives me a good opportunity to pause and recognise Scottish teachers for what they are – a credit to the country and a key strength of our education system.

I see the skill, professionalism and dedication of teachers every week in schools the length and breadth of Scotland. I am constantly impressed and inspired.

One of the things that pleases me most is the commitment to putting Curriculum for Excellence into practice and making sure it delivers real improvements for our young people.

Giving teachers the freedom to teach and trusting in their professional skills is one of the cornerstones of Curriculum for Excellence. This means moving away from the rigidity of the old system, to make sure pupils really get their teeth into their subjects and are inspired to learn across traditional curricular boundaries.

I’ve seen some wonderful examples of the type of creative, imaginative teaching that is the real hallmark of Curriculum for Excellence and I’ve also seen the way this can encourage pupils to greater achievements and help improve behaviour in the classroom.

I am sure our teachers and school and college staff will continue to take advantage of Curriculum for Excellence to make the most of their professional skills as they help energise learning and teaching in Scotland and make it more relevant to the modern world.

So once again, to all those involved in our education system, thank you!

Michael Russell Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning