The task: What the in-tray contains

PROF McCormac will have a bulging in-tray to greet him as he starts his new role. For a start he will have just five months to co-ordinate his time and report back rather than the nine months his predecessor Prof Gavin McCrone had more than a decade ago.

His review will have to ask whether the cost and size of the current teacher workforce is affordable in the context of the current financial climate. Pressure will be on to save money but cuts to staff will be unpopular with teachers and parents.

Salaries remain a problem. The 23 per cent increase over three years a decade ago did much to boost morale and make up for years of low wages. A starting salary of around 21,000 is not enough to attract many candidates to teaching, especially those already earning far more, however there is no money in the kitty.

Promotion - removal of many promoted posts and a maximum classroom teacher salary of around 34,000 leaves little place to go for those with decades of experience. With the Chartered Teacher scheme set to be axed which provided a salary boost and little money in the pot, this will be tough to do.

Working hours - McCrone promised a working week of 35 hours but surveys show most teachers do an additional ten-15 hours. However, more teachers would be needed to reduce hours and councils are already cutting staff.

Recruiting heads - increasing responsibility over the workforce, finance, growing piles of paperwork and little salary increase is deterring many from taking the step up to head. However, removing red tape and a lot of administrative work could turn this round easily.

Prof McCormac will have help. The other members of the review are: Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh: solicitor, businesswoman and actress; Graham Donaldson: former chief schools inspector; Isabelle Boyd: headteacher of Cardinal Newman High School, Bellshill; Sue Bruce: chief executive of Edinburgh City Council; Moira McCrossan, retired primary headteacher and past president of the EIS, and Alf Young: journalist.