A dearth of leaders in schools could condemn A Curriculum for Excellence to failure, one of Scotland’s most influential education directors has warned.

Aberdeenshire’s Bruce Robertson heaped praise upon Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop for her role in bringing about curricular reform when he spoke to the international summer school on school leadership in Edinburgh this week.

It was time, he said, for schools to stop making excuses and take responsibility for ACfE.

“I really wonder if we’ve got enough school-based leaders who understand the challenges, but also the opportunities, that are around us,” Mr Robertson said.

“Without inspirational leadership at all levels, Curriculum for Excellence will not deliver.”

He stressed that leadership was more important than resources in ensuring its success.

While there were plenty of “effective managers”, he found “inspirational leaders” thin on the ground and “some real challenges at a middle-management level”.

Speaking after his speech, Mr Robertson was concerned about a lack of “momentum” behind ACfE.

The worst-case scenario, he said, would be for Scottish schools to “deliver 20th-century outcomes for 21st-century learners”. hh.