Top marks for 25 teaching staff at awards

TWENTY-FIVE members of East Lothian Council's education and children's services department received an assortment of professional qualifications at a special awards ceremony at Musselburgh's Quay.

Between them, they have amassed nine postgraduate qualifications, three HNCs, two SVQs, eight child protection qualifications, nine Professional Development Awards for classroom assistants and a support for learning assessor's award.

Brendan Harris, of the UK Centre for Continuing Professional Development, attended the ceremony to see some of his students receive awards.

He said: "I've had quite a long association with East Lothian Council now, and every year we get really good feedback from our candidates. Studying for a professional qualification like an SVQ gives people the skills and confidence they need to be really effective at their job."

Peter MacKenzie, education and children's services convener, added: "I think study is like a journey, and, like travel, it changes you.

"I'm really pleased that education and children's services wants to help people make that journey."