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The General Teaching Council for Scotland, the independent regulator for teachers in Scotland, has announced the election of a new Convener and Vice Convener to Council.
Omar Kettlewell has been elected as Council Convener and Sandie Gordon as Vice Convener.
Omar was elected to Council in 2020. He previously served as Convener of Education Committee. He is a Principal Teacher at Braehead Primary School in South Ayrshire.
Sandie was elected to Council in 2024 and is a teacher at Cornbank Primary School, Midlothian.
Omar replaces Dr Khadija Mohammed and Sandie replaces Iain Macmillan who both came to the end of their term as Convener and Vice Convener in April 2024.
GTC Scotland's Council comprises of 37 members, the majority of whom are elected registrants. Council governs GTC Scotland and sets strategic policy. Council membership is set out in GTC Scotland’s governing legislation.
Commenting on his new role, Omar said:
It is a real privilege to be elected as Convener of GTC Scotland Council. Through my previous experience on Council, I have learned about the unique role that GTC Scotland has in the Scottish education system. At the core of what we do as the independent regulator for teachers is setting, upholding and promoting standards which sustains trust in teaching.
I am committed to working with Council members to continue to build on the successful work of our previous Council and ensure trust in teaching.
Sandie said:
GTC Scotland’s statutory aims are to help improve the quality of learning and teaching, and maintain and improve teaching standards. It’s a privilege to be part of an organisation that speaks up for high standards remaining at the heart of the teaching profession and I am excited to work with Omar and my fellow Council members on issues affecting GTC Scotland and the profession over the next two years.
Dr Pauline Stephen, Chief Executive and Registrar at GTC Scotland said:
Over the last 60 years the Register of Teachers has grown and changed – we now have over 81,000 individuals on our register – school teachers and college lecturers. I would like to thank our previous Council members for their work in highlighting the importance of our regulatory role in the interests of trusted teaching. I look forward to working with Omar, Sandie and our new Council as we enter the second year of our 2023-2028 strategic plan.
