Everybody was equal at the annual teaching “Oscars” at Hampden Park (yes it’s that place again, fast becoming as popular as Murrayfield for educational outings). Directors of education, their staff and pupils rubbed shoulders at the glitzy show with the glitterati, from Texas singer Sharleen Spiteri to Rangers boss Alex McLeish.
The celebs were there as walk-on extras to celebrate schools’ achievements and present the prizes. John Stodter, Aberdeen’s director, was in no doubt who was centre stage as he rushed up to the platform with his colleagues to collect his prize for the council that did most to “close the gap” in pupil attainment.
Stodter hesitated just briefly to hand a camera over to a chap at one of the tables - one Tam Cowan, football pundit, who helpfully proceeded to snap for posterity.
We especially congratulate North Lanarkshire which had no fewer than nine entries leeted for awards. As the chap who thought up the idea when he was education minister, this will have been particularly pleasing to Jack McConnell, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw in, er, North Lanarkshire, who was present throughout the day.
