GLASGOW'S new education convenor has said she plans to use the role to champion the city's schools and show they are "just as good" as any other council area.

Councillor Christina Cannon takes over from Chris Cunningham as City Convener for Education, Communities and Equalities, becoming the city's youngest ever education convenor at the age of 24.

While still "finding her feet" in the role, Christina's background is in education - giving her expertise in the position.

The Glasgow Times joined her on a tour of the new North Kelvinside Primary, her first visit to a city primary.

She said: "Glasgow schools are just as good and just as valuable as schools in every other local authority.

"Glasgow has specific challenges but there are no challenges that a Glasgow school can't overcome.

"And I see my role absolutely as championing and promoting our schools so that message really gets out there."

Christina has firsthand knowledge of the city's schools as a former pupil of St Cuthbert's Primary on its former site before it moved to Benview campus in Ruchill.

READ MORE: Take a tour of Glasgow's newest school campus 

She is also alumna of Notre Dame High School, attending the West End secondary when it was still Scotland's last remaining state funded all-girls school.

Christina is diplomatic about the decision to introduce male pupils to the school, which happened for the first time this year.

She said: "As a former pupil there was always a feeling there that no one likes to see their school change from what it was like when they were there but I think my view as a former pupil does not have the same weight as the people who currently live there or the pupils currently at the school and the teachers.

"I know that there was quite a lengthy consultation process and the results came from that consultation process.

"I haven't been up to visit yet but I hear that the introduction of male students is going very well so I'm looking forward to going out to visit them."

Christina, who became a councillor in the North of the city in 2017, studied for a politics and sociology degree at Glasgow University before taking a Masters in Education and Public Policy.

Glasgow Times:

She added: "I went to university to be a teacher before I came in to politics so always had a keen eye on education and the education system.

"I'm particularly interested in reducing inequality through education and how education has the power to do that."

On her tour around North Kelvinside Primary she met head teacher Susan Thomson as well as chatting to young pupils about their state-of-the-art new building.

Christina said: "It's totally different from my school experience at St Cuthbert's. 

"I'm fairly young myself so it wasn't decades and decades ago I went to primary school, but the change even in that short space of time is notable. 

"Politicians say things about outdoor learning and how important that is for the education of children but actually getting to see that in a modern building and how that is being received by the kids and the teachers, it's fantastic."

Christina has also been impressed by the extra-curricular activities on offer in city schools and last week presented the prizes at the Glasgow Schools City of Dance finals.

She said: "That's a great example of what the schools do to go above and beyond the curriculum. 

"They are giving pupils the confidence to go and perform in front of hundreds of people - it is so impressive and if we can teach our young people skills like that they can carry them in to later life."

Former director of education Maureen McKenna retired last year after 13 years with Douglas Hutchison taking over in the role.

Christina said they are "both finding our feet in our respective roles" but says two fresh pairs of eyes will be vital after the hardships caused by the two pandemic years. 

She added: "Outwith the pandemic,Glasgow's always had the challenge of being behind the national average in some benchmarks though we are now not necessarily in that position in some respects, which is only something to be celebrated. 

"We'll always have a challenge because of our size and because of some of the challenges Glasgow faces we might not necessarily be expected to excel.

"But actually Glasgow schools have started to prove that national picture wrong and we are excelling in every respect but we do need to do more.

"So when we get a better picture of how the challenges from the pandemic have presented themselves we will support Glasgow schools go above and beyond."