We are smart people, us Scots. We have helped to shape the world through our ideas and inventions and have long remained characteristically modest about our contributions.

Our intellect and drive have put us at the forefront of so much change, with our education system well praised and envied across the world.

And yet, in recent years, we have seen more negative headlines regarding Scottish education than I am comfortable with, as the editor of The Herald.

Of course, I have a job to ensure decision makers are held to account, and that includes those who shape and control our education sector. Unfortunately, this can result in negative headlines, but I will never waiver from this responsibility and nor will my team.

If things are not going well, if teachers and students are not being equipped with the tools they need for success, then as journalists it is our job to highlight their stories, lay bare the facts, and put pressure on those in power to make things better.

But we also have another job and we have not been doing it very well.

We have a responsibility to support all those in our vast education sector by giving them our backing publicly, not only by highlighting where things are not working, but by celebrating all that is good.

The Herald:

There are tens of thousands of teachers across our great country who are changing lives every day.

There are tens of thousands of students – across a huge age range – whose hard work, intelligence, drive, focus, and compassion is inspiring. They are a credit to our country.

We have not heard enough about them. We have not celebrated them as loudly as we have been critical of some decision makers. We have fallen short of championing our country. Perhaps we have been too modest? Perhaps it has been easier to look to the harder content, resulting in a focus on data and politics?

Read more: It's time to cover education differently – get The Herald for a year from £24

At The Herald, we are changing our direction and I am asking for your support.

We are determined to influence meaningful change in Scotland’s education sector, by showing where things are going well, where there are success stories that can be replicated across the country, and by being a voice teachers and learners can trust.

We will remain critical of our decision makers, but we will be telling a bigger, wider story, to give our readers a fuller picture of Scotland’s education sector.

We have changed direction and have brought on board a new journalist to shape much of our content.

Former teacher, author and writer James McEnaney joined our team this summer as the key education writer and has already produced a swathe of work. I am thrilled to have him at The Herald and excited about what we can achieve together.

I sat down with James to discuss the state of Scottish education, how the media is approaching education, what needs to change, and the brilliant things students and educators are up to. Watch below.

But this is just the beginning of our journey, and I am asking for your help.

Please support the work we are doing by signing up to a digital subscription for just £24 a year and let’s do education differently – together.

Thank you,

Catherine Salmond
Editor