25.02.10 - GTC Scotland welcomes Independence Consultation Outcome

The General Teaching Council for Scotland has today welcomed a statement by the Scottish Government which confirms the Council's future independent status. The statement was in response to a recent government consultation on independence for the GTC Scotland, which is the professional regulator for teachers in Scotland.

GTC Scotland Convener, David Drever said:

"We welcome the Scottish Government's response to the recent consultation on independent status for the GTC Scotland. This response recognises the Council as the guardian of both teacher professionalism and of teaching standards in Scotland; and it offers a strong endorsement of the current work of GTC Scotland and, indeed, of its reputation for professional integrity and for protection of the public interest over the last forty-five years. We see independent status as a big opportunity to improve still further the work we do and the service we provide to teachers, learners and the wider educational community."

The move to independence will not change fundamentally the relationship which teachers have with GTC Scotland. While independence will offer new challenges and opportunities to the Council, most aspects of its current profile will remain as at present. In addition, in both its traditional areas of operation and in new areas, GTC Scotland will continue to work very closely with stakeholders throughout the educational community to ensure that wider perspectives are reflected in the decisions made by the Council.

GTC Scotland Chief Executive, Anthony Finn believes that independence will confirm existing good practice, while offering new opportunities to explore in the future:

"Teachers can be assured that there will be no immediate change to the way they engage with the GTC Scotland," Mr. Finn said. "We anticipate that the link which teachers have with the services we provide and the support we offer will continue as before. In addition, the proposals announced today by the Scottish Government will mean that we can enhance our service to teachers.

"However, while we welcome the Scottish Government's response we do feel that there are areas which, given the balance of responses made to the Government consultation, could have been developed further. For example, it is disappointing that our role as guardian of standards in the college sector has not been fully confirmed. We will now work with college principals and staff and with other key stakeholders to take this matter forward, with a view to promoting enhanced professionalism in both colleges and schools.

"The Scottish Government might also have considered expanding the role of GTC Scotland in respect of Continuing Professional Development for teachers. We feel that an opportunity could have been taken to develop a more coherent and accessible model of CPD for all teachers, with the GTC Scotland playing a key role, in association with other stakeholders, to ensure professional standards are maintained. Having said this, we think that this area can also still be explored, with a view to the GTC Scotland assuming an enhanced role in the future."

One significant outcome of the consultation is that the GTC Scotland has been invited to look at the issue of the reaccreditation of teachers. Both Mr. Drever and Mr. Finn were keen to ensure that this issue would be developed very sensitively, after full consultation with teachers themselves.

Mr. Finn said: "It is important to say that teachers in Scotland are highly trained and, consequently, the overwhelming majority of teachers already work to high standards. Any work that might be done in the future to introduce reaccreditation should serve to confirm the already high standard of teaching in schools in Scotland and to support teachers in updating their professional skills in an environment in which change is now constant. It is, therefore, anticipated that any future developments in Scotland would not follow the style and requirements of relicensing recently announced in England."

In welcoming today's Government statement, Council Convener, David Drever, concluded:

"We feel that the proposed changes can only enhance the work that we already do and open new areas for the GTC Scotland to explore. Ultimately, this is about working on behalf of the teaching profession in Scotland and ensuring that standards remain high and that young people get an excellent education. We feel that the proposals announced today can only help to maintain and improve this."

For further information about the consultation findings visit the Independence - questions and answers area of the website.

Further information

• The General Teaching Council for Scotland is the independent professional body which maintains and enhances teaching standards and promotes and regulates the teaching profession in Scotland