A full-scale review of the way teachers are trained has been launched by the Scottish Government on Friday.

It will cover the training of teachers at the student stage and how this continues as they move through their career.

The move comes in the run-up to next year's launch of the Curriculum for Excellence, which is intended to be the most radical education reform in a generation.

The reviews will be carried out by Graham Donaldson, senior chief inspector at HM Inspectorate for Education. He will start work in January and will report to ministers by autumn next year.

The new curriculum is meant to improve the way children learn in a fast-changing world, but was yesterday criticised by head teachers for the extra assessment this will involve.

Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "We know that as we continue to implement Curriculum for Excellence, the demands on teachers will change.

"That is why I believe that the time is right for a wide-ranging review that takes a fundamental look at our system of teacher education.

"It is time to work out what is good, where the strengths are and where improvements and modernisations can be made."

She said Mr Donaldson's review would be "open and inclusive," with no pre-formed conclusion.

She added: "He will be tasked with considering the full range of teacher education in Scotland - including initial teacher education, induction and continuing professional development.

"There are some specific questions that I would like the review to answer, including how can teacher education support the flexibility in the profession that curriculum for excellence requires."