Two national museum directors and the culture secretary have signed up to take part in Speakers for Schools, a new network of volunteers who give free talks to students at state schools.

Charles Saumarez Smith, chief executive of the Royal Academy of Arts and a former director of the National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery, and Sandy Nairne, director of the National Portrait Gallery, will take part in the UK-wide programme.

Jeremy Hunt, secretary of state for culture, media and sport, and Jenny Abramsky, chairwoman of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund, have also volunteered.

Among the six topics that speakers will give talks on are culture, history and language; policy and society; and art, media and communications.