The General Teaching Council for Scotland has made the first appointments to its new slimline council when it moves to independent status in April.

The membership of 50 will drop to 37 next year; the current 26 elected teachers will fall to 19.

Nine teacher members will serve on the body, including the convener, David Drever. Of these, seven have declared EIS membership and one membership of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association.

Brenda Bleackley, who spearheaded the new Scottish Primary Teachers’ Association, came eighth in the primary teachers’ ballot in which seven candidates were elected.

Nominated and lay members of the new council will be announced next month; the chair will be announced in March at the last meeting of the old council.