• The Council
• About the Council
• Committees and Panels
• Council Appointments
• Council Elections
• Council members
• Meetings and minutes
• Role of Council members

About The Council

GTC Scotland is governed by a Council made up of teachers, educationalists and lay members that makes decisions on matters of strategy and policy.

Council membership follows a rolling programme with election, nomination and appointments processes taking place every two years and half of the members stepping down at the end of each two year period. This is based on a four year term of office for Council members.

Structure of the Council

The Council is made up of 37 individuals who fall into one of three categories:

• 19 elected registered teachers

It is open to GTC Scotland to determine the registration categories from which teachers are to be elected and the number of teachers to be elected in each category.

Currently the elected registered teacher membership of the Council consists of:

• 9 teachers (including 2 headteachers) in primary schools or nursery schools in Scotland
• 8 teachers (including 2 headteachers) in secondary schools in Scotland
• 1 lecturer/teacher in the further education sector in Scotland
• 1 lecturer/teacher in universities in Scotland providing courses of Initial Teacher Education
  
• 11 members nominated by educational stakeholders as follows:
• 3 by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (following consultation with the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland)
• 3 by Universities Scotland (following consultation with universities providing recognised teaching qualifications for individuals seeking registration as either teachers or further education lecturers)
• 1 by the governing bodies of the Further Education Colleges
• 1 by the Scottish Council of Independent Schools
• 1 by the Church of Scotland
• 1 by the Roman Catholic Church
• 1 by Parent Councils and Combined Parent Councils
  
• 7 lay members appointed, following an open and fair selection process, by the independent Appointments Committee.

Role of the Council

The Council has a significant role to play in shaping the teaching profession of Scotland and maintaining and improving professional standards. It does this by developing and monitoring the strategic direction of, and policy for, GTC Scotland.

Council members play a pivotal role in raising educational standards. From setting and maintaining codes of conduct, to guiding and supporting teachers through induction, probation, into the classroom and even onto headship, the Council makes a positive impact on the working lives of teachers every day. In addition, the Council has set out and keeps under review clear Professional Standards to clarify what is expected at each stage in a teacher's career.

Council members therefore have a duty to observe the highest standards of impartiality, integrity and objectivity in relation to setting and developing GTC Scotland policy and to the direction and organisation of the Council itself.

The Council meets 4 times a year to discuss a range of matters, although special meetings may take place when necessary.