Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, it is great to see that other categories of young critics are being encouraged, following the success of The Herald's Young Critics project with the Edinburgh International Festival and youngsters studying for their Highers.
Instigated by the previous director of the EIF, Sir Brian McMaster, an admirer of the standard of reviewing to be found in the pages of The Herald, The Herald Young Critics publishes the best reviews from four excursions to festival shows by teams from four Edinburgh secondary schools.
This year the best of those will be awarded the first Little Cherub, a companion piece to our Herald Angels for artistic excellence, and sponsored by The Bank of Scotland.
With another newspaper the Bank has also become involved in encouraging primary age children to express their opinions and now The Stage has got in on the act with a scheme for older youngsters. Its team of reviewers will this year be joined by student reviewers, whose work will be published in the theatre profession's trade journal.
This news comes from the newly published issue of The Stage, an Edinburgh Festival special issue, which is full of good reading and well worth the £1.40 cover price.
Keith Bruce