Aberdeen Learning Festival looks to bridge the education to workplace gap

14 February 2017

The 2017 Aberdeen Learning Festival took place today (Tuesday 14 February) with the focus on improving lives and opportunities for children and young people and the transition from education into worklife.

Attendees at the huge annual event, this year taking place at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, heard a number of speakers including Councillor Angela Taylor, Education and Children’s Services Committee Convener, Deputy First Minister John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills in the Scottish Government and Dr Janet Goodall, Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Management at the University of Bath.

The event which also included an exhibition of over 50 stands showcasing educational resources, equipment and innovative practice enabled professionals to come together and share learning in keeping with another of the day’s themes, partnership working.

Councillor Taylor: “It’s great to be able to welcome so many people here today as the event goes from strength to strength. The Aberdeen Learning Festival has national significance and just as important as the keynote speakers are the opportunities for education professionals from across Scotland, and beyond, to meet and share thoughts and ideas.

“The Festival can really help us shape the agenda in closing the attainment gap and ensuring that today’s pupils are ready to meet the challenges of work life in the future and maximise their opportunities”.

The event included a series of workshops, seminars and discussion forums based on the key themes. Visitors to the Festival were also entertained by music provided by pupils at schools across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.