Secretary of State announces the appointment of new members to the GTC

last updated:23 Jun 2005

Nine members have been appointed for four years and a further four have been appointed for two years.

Lesley Ansari, Janet Draper, Anne Garner, Robert Millea, Kirit Modi, Angela Stones, Anthony Wilkes and Nicola Wilson have been appointed for four years. Sashi Sivaloganathan has been reappointed.

Syed Bokhari, Peter Cooper, Gloria Hyatt and Jean Scott have been appointed for two years.

The candidates reflect a wide range of experience and expertise including parent governors, outstanding classroom practitioners and specialists in special educational needs and small schools.

Secretary of State Ruth Kelly said: "The GTC plays an important role as an independent advisory and regulatory body. I am very pleased to confirm the appointments for England and wish them every success in their role. The board has a huge range of skills and experience from their various careers that I'm sure they will be able to put to good use in their new posts."

Chief Executive Carol Adams said: "I welcome the new Secretary of State appointees to the GTC and congratulate them on their appointment. I look forward to working with them when they take up their new posts in September.

Secretary of State appointees

Sashi Sivaloganathan is an advanced skills teacher with 15 years experience in both mainstream and special schools.  She joined the Council in September 2000 and became its Vice-Chair in September 2004.

Lesley Ansari is currently in her second term of office as a parent governor of a mixed community secondary school.   She is a regional equality and diversity advisor for ACAS East Midlands.

Janet Draper is currently a senior lecturer at the School of Education and Lifelong Learning at Exeter University having previously been Head of the Department of Education and Society in the Faculty of Education at Edinburgh University.  In the past she has worked with the GTC for Scotland. 

Anne Garner is an experienced early year's practitioner with experience in small, rural schools. She is currently seconded to BECTA for 3 days a week as a consultant headteacher and has had experience as an acting headteacher to lead and support schools subject to special measures.

Robert Millea is a Chartered Accountant currently employed as Clerk to the Governors of a FE college and Chair of a Governing body of a middle school. 

Kirit Modi is currently Assistant Director of Education at Cambridge Education Associates under an outsourcing contract with Islington LBC.  He trained as a maths teacher and also worked in a senior management position at Luton Borough Council.  He is currently a member of the National Refugee Teachers Taskforce. 

Angela Stones is currently headteacher at the Macmillan Nursery school, is in the final stages of establishing a children's centre. She is co-ordinating a joint extended schools project with a neighbouring primary school.  

Anthony Wilkes is a self-employed Education and Training consultant working with schools, colleges, prison education and professional sports organisations.  Formerly Bedford College Senior Academic Manager until 2004, after a career as a secondary teacher, and lecturer in higher and further education. 

Nicola Wilson qualified as an overseas trained teacher and is a science and ICT coordinator at an inner London primary school.

Syed Bokhari is a former principal of a college in South London.  He was a former Chair of the Muslim Teachers Association and is currently a Member of the MTA and Muslim Education Co-ordinating Council. 

Peter Cooper is currently working as an inclusion/SEN coordinator and has substantial experience as a teacher and former headteacher in both special education and mainstream schools.  He is also a foundation governor of a local primary school and a representative on a virtual schools pilot project. 

Gloria Hyatt is currently a self-employed education consultant and an education neighbourhood renewal advisor.  She is a former headteacher of the Elimu Academy in Liverpool, the first independent school in the country for predominantly black secondary school pupils who were excluded, or faced exclusion, from school.  

Jean Scott has been a parent governor for 9 years in both primary and secondary schools and is an education policy advisor for rural communities.