Primary teacher and university lecturer Khadija Mohammed has been elected as the new council convener of the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
She becomes the first black, Asian and/or minority ethnic (BAME) convener of the GTCS council, and takes on the role until 2024.
Ms Mohammed is working on a PhD that centres on race equality, by exploring the lived experiences of BAME teachers in Scotland, with a focus on celebrating their cultural, linguistic and religious identities.
She is also chair of the Scottish Association of Minority Ethnic Educators and has been one of the country’s most active campaigners for a more diverse teaching workforce.
Ms Mohammed is a senior lecturer in the school of education and social sciences at the University of the West of Scotland. Previously, she was a primary teacher at Bankhead Primary School, Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire.
She is also chair of the Scottish government curriculum reform group on developing an anti-racist curriculum and, in 2019, received the Scottish Trades Union Congress Equality Award.
She has recently served as vice-convener and has been on the GTCS council since 2020. She replaces David Innes, who came to the end of his term at the start of April 2022.
GTC Scotland’s council comprises 37 members. It governs GTCS and sets strategic policy.
Ms Mohammed said she was “honoured to be elected” and that, as vice-convener, she had “learned so much about the importance of good governance”.
She added: “Together with council members, I was able to promote a more nuanced approach in relation to engagement with the Professional Standards and the professional values.”
Ms Mohammed also said that, as an educator from a BAME background, “I hope to continue to contribute to the development of a more race-cognisant approach, supporting teachers to understand and conceptualise discourses of race, diversity and inclusion”.
Meanwhile, Iain Macmillan has been elected as vice-convener. He is principal teacher of social studies at Fraserburgh Academy, in Aberdeenshire, and previously served as convener of the GTCS education committee.
GTCS chief executive and registrar Pauline Stephen said: “Khadija and Iain have already shown great commitment to the work of GTC Scotland. I look forward to working with them in their new roles, along with our council members, as we continue to ensure a respected and trusted teaching profession.”
