Clare Harker has been elected as Council Convener, with Sandie Gordon re-elected as Vice Convener.
Clare and Sandie both joined Council in 2024. Clare is headteacher at St Albert’s Primary School in Glasgow and Sandie is a teacher at Cornbank Primary School in Midlothian.
Clare takes over from Omar Kettlewell who came to the end of his term as Convener and member of Council in March 2026.
GTC Scotland’s strategic plan, Trusted Teaching, sets out the focus of the regulator’s change and improvement work from 2023 to 2028. In essence, this is about delivering its core regulatory functions well. Read the strategic plan.
Commenting on her election, Clare said: “It’s a privilege to be elected Convener of Council. It’s the role of Council members to be clear about the purpose of GTC Scotland and to deliver positive outcomes. This is about upholding teaching standards in the public interest.
“I look forward to working with my fellow Council members to deliver the final 2 years of our strategic plan. Our focus continues to be on creating the conditions for teaching standards to be at the heart of education.”
Commenting on her re-election, Sandie said: “Scotland has a long legacy of recognising the importance of teaching standards. I am very proud to be re-elected as Vice Convener and of Council’s role to speak up for high standards.”
Dr Pauline Stephen, Chief Executive and Registrar of GTC Scotland said: “I look forward to working with Clare, Sandie and our new Council to further our vision of trusted teaching.
“Change has been the watchword for the first half of our strategic plan and Council have had some big strategic issues to consider. Council will continue to oversee our progress as well as turn their attention to future planning.”
A new Council term
GTC Scotland has welcomed 15 new Council members this term. Eight were elected in the most recent Council elections, 5 are nominated members and 2 have been appointed as lay people.
GTC Scotland's Council is made up of 37 members:
- 19 elected registered teachers
- 11 educational stakeholder nominees
- 7 lay members appointed by an independent Appointments Committee
Council governs GTC Scotland and sets strategic policy. Council membership is set out in GTC Scotland’s governing legislation.
