GTC Scotland
The indpendent professional body
maintaining and enhancing teaching standards
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Frequently Asked Questions

Alternative Route - Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is probationary service?

    Probationary service is the period of time in which, as a new teacher, you develop your teaching skills and benefit from the support of your colleagues. That support will help you become integrated into the life of the school and achieve the Standard for Full Registration. During this period your teaching will be monitored so that the most appropriate form of support is offered. GTC Scotland have developed a guidance document 'Achieving the Standard for Full Registration, Guidance for Schools and New Teachers - Alternative Route', which provides detailed advice about the probation period. The guidance can be accessed in the Probation section of this website. More detailed information and guidance for probation teachers is available at www.probationerteacherscotland.org.uk.

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  • Why is it necessary?

    It is necessary to ensure that you are able to take on the demands and responsibilities of teaching. During the probationary period you are entitled to additional support to enable you to develop your skills and demonstrate your competence to teach.

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  • How long is the probation period?

    You are normally required to complete four school terms (270 days) of successful probationer service.

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  • Does a period of service need to be continuous?

    No, it is not necessary for periods of probationary service to be continuous. However you will remain provisionally registered until the successful completion of probation and on the recommendation of your headteacher.

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  • Are there time limits for completion of the probationary period?

    Yes, there are time limits within which probationer teachers must obtain full registration.

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  • What are the time limits?

    1) For teachers provisionally registered with the Council prior to 1 September 2003, full registration must be obtained no later than five years with effect from 1 January 2005 (i.e. 1 January 2010). 2) For teachers provisionally registered with the Council from 1 September 2003 onwards: (a) If you participated in, and withdraw from, the Teacher Induction Scheme - Full registration is to be obtained no later than three years from the date of initial provisional registration with the Council. (b) If you are not participating in the Teacher Induction Scheme and following the alternative probation route - Full registration is to be obtained no later than five years from the date of initial provisional registration with the Council.

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  • If a probationer teacher's provisional registration with the Council lapses, what happens to the time limit?

    If a teacher's provisional registration lapses, the time limit 'clock' keeps on ticking for the duration of the period of time when the provisional registration is lapsed. If a teacher later renews his/her provisional registration, he/she must obtain full registration within the time limit remaining from the commencement date of the original time limit.

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  • Does a time limit apply to the probationary period for a teacher adding a second or subsequent teaching qualification to his/her portfolio?

    There is no time limit for the probationary period relating to a second or subsequent teaching qualification.

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  • What happens if personal or other circumstances affect a probationer teacher's ability to complete the probationary period within the required time?

    In exceptional circumstances the Council can consider extending the period of provisional registration. You should write to the Professional Learning and Development Department stating your circumstances.

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  • Achieving the Standard for Full Registration - What does the Council want to know?

    It is important that the Council has a record of any periods of relevant teaching. A portfolio of your experiences should be kept so that you can complete your GTC Scotland Interim and Final Reports and it will enable you to monitor your progress. An Interim Report should be completed after two terms full time continuous and relevant service. A Final Report should be completed at the end of four terms. Where service is not continuous, an Interim Report should be submitted for periods of three to four weeks' (or more) service. Where your teaching has been of a shorter time, confirmation of dates of service (as recorded on the Record of Teaching Service table) will suffice. A Final Report should be completed by you and your headteacher at the end of your probationary period. Report forms can be downloaded from the Alternative Route part of the Probation section of our website. Remember that GTC Scotland is here to support and advise you on issues relating to your probationary period. You can contact the Professional Learning and Development Department for help and advice. More detailed information and guidance for probation teachers is also available at www.probationerteacherscotland.org.uk.

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  • Who writes the reports?

    You complete the majority of the report but you will also need to ask your headteacher to complete the appropriate parts of the document(s).

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  • Can I comment on my report?

    Yes. Interim and Final Report forms invite you to submit comments to the Council separately, in writing, if you wish. You are asked to sign the form to confirm that you have read and received a copy of the report. Your signature does not necessarily indicate your agreement with the content.

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  • Who is responsible for ensuring that reports are submitted to the Council?

    You are. If reports are not forwarded, it is impossible to record and credit the probationary service completed. Please ensure that reports are submitted at the end of each period of service.

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  • What support and professional development can I access to help achieve the Standard for Full Registration?

    Meetings with a probation supporter/mentor and observed teaching sessions are also essential as part of your ongoing development. Invite observers to provide feedback. Check with your authority on the support available and make sure you record all additional training undertaken in your portfolio. Maintain your portfolio at all times; it is easier to do this as you develop. Take advantage of informal support offered by colleagues.

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  • What is a portfolio?

    A portfolio is evidence of your journey from Provisional Registration to Full Registration and is a live record of your ongoing development.

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  • What happens if the report on my teaching is adverse?

    If, at the end of your probationary period, your report is adverse, your probationary service may be extended or your registration cancelled.

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  • Can I teach in a nursery school or class?

    Providing you hold a teaching qualification in primary education, the probation period may be completed in the nursery sector. It is important that your probation period is monitored and all reports completed by a fully registered primary teacher. However you are strongly recommended to also gain experience in the primary sector.

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  • Can I teach in Special Education?

    The probation period may be completed in special education (moderate learning difficulties) providing the service is satisfactory and relevant to your teaching qualification. An exception to this rule is service in schools/classes for pupils with profound and/or complex learning difficulties where only two terms of full-time (or the equivalent in part-time) satisfactory and relevant service in a mainstream school situation.

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  • Can I work as a Support for Learning Teacher?

    Credit of up to two terms only can be considered. To be eligible to apply for Full Registration you would normally be required to complete two terms of full-time (or the equivalent in part-time) satisfactory service in sole charge of a primary class or, in the case of secondary teachers, be responsible for delivering your subject specialism(s) across a range of secondary classes.

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  • Can I teach in residential schools?

    Probationary service is accepted in full providing it is satisfactory and relevant to your teaching qualification, subject to the terms above.

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  • Can I teach in other non-mainstream establishments?

    Probationary service in establishments such as assessment centres, children's resource centres etc, is generally accepted providing it is satisfactory and relevant to teaching qualifications.

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  • What if I am involved in team/flexibility teaching?

    Many forms of team/flexibility teaching may be considered for probationary service. You are advised to submit details of teaching and timetable to enable an assessment to be made. The Council will be looking for service that includes a broad spectrum of the curriculum and/or your own subject along with experience of planning, assessing and recording.

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  • Can the probationary period be completed in Further Education?

    Teachers in possession of a teaching qualification in secondary education sometimes accept an appointment in Further Education. In such circumstances, probationers, if they complete four terms of satisfactory relevant service, may be eligible to apply for Full Registration in secondary education. They will be required to complete two terms of satisfactory and relevant service in a secondary school.

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  • If I hold a secondary qualification, can I teach in the primary sector?

    As a secondary teacher provisionally registered to teach one of the expressive arts subjects and then appointed to primary schools to teach your own secondary subject, you will be eligible to apply for Full Registration after four terms of successful primary service but only in respect of teaching your subject in the primary sector. In order to be eligible for Full Registration in respect of secondary, a further two terms of successful relevant secondary school service will be required.

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  • Does teaching service in other parts of the United Kingdom count for probationary purposes?

    Subject to the conditions outlined in these FAQs, service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is acceptable. You should also register with the appropriate GTC and submit reports to GTC Scotland in the normal manner.

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  • Does teaching service overseas count for probationary purposes?

    Providing the service abroad is satisfactory and relevant to your teaching qualification, and the medium of instruction is English. However, to be eligible to apply for Full Registration you may be required to obtain a report and recommendation from the headteacher of a school in the UK in which you are subsequently employed. You may also be required to provide an official statement confirming you have no criminal record in the country concerned.

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  • If I hold a dual qualification, what percentage of my timetable would I be required to teach in each subject?

    The Council always tries to be flexible. However, you will be required to teach at least 20% of a timetable in any one subject for it to be recognised. It is important that the proportion and nature of teaching time devoted to each subject is indicated in the reports. It is possible to become fully registered in one subject, while remaining provisional in another. A further (reduced) period of probation for a second or subsequent subject is required.

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GTC Scotland, Clerwood House, 96 Clermiston Road, Edinburgh EH12 6UT    |    0131 314 6000    |    gtcs@gtcs.org.uk