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About GTC Scotland

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) is the independent professional body which maintains and enhances teaching standards and promotes and regulates the teaching profession in Scotland. We strive to be a world leader in professional education issues.

Established in 1965 as a result of the Teaching Council Scotland Act, GTC Scotland was the first such professional body for teaching and teachers in the United Kingdom and one of the first teaching councils in the world.

The legislation that established GTC Scotland in 1965 will be replaced by The Public Services Reform (General Teaching Council for Scotland) Order 2011. This will see a number of significant changes taking place in terms of our constitution and functions. The Order will come into force on 2 April 2012.

We ensure that children in Scotland are taught by qualified registered teachers and aim to promote equality and diversity in all our activities. We are a registered charity (charity number SC006187).

In 2009, the Scottish Government declared that GTC Scotland would become an independent profession-led body and we are currently working towards that.

Annual Report and Accounts - 2010-11

About Us dvd transcript

What we do

We carry out a wide range of activities relating to education in Scotland such as registration and continual professional development. Our main functions are:

To maintain the register of teachers and decide if registration should be refused or withdrawn on grounds of professional conduct or professional competence
To maintain and enhance our professional standards
To review the standards of education
To make recommendations to Scottish Ministers
To monitor, review and accredit programmes of teacher education courses
To administer the Standard for Headship programme
To manage the probationary period of teachers

In the area of Continuing Professional Development (CPD):

to accredit all modules and programmes leading to the award of The Standard for Chartered Teacher and the award of The Standard for Headship
to support and assess claims made by teachers who can demonstrate that they have achieved the Standard for Chartered Teacher
to organise a professional interview for a teacher recommended for the professional award of the Standard for Headship as part of the national Flexible Routes to Headship pilot project
to make recommendations to Scottish Ministers on the career development, staff development and review of teachers.

We work closely with our educational partners across Scotland and internationally to improve the quality of teaching and teachers. We also act in the public interest and contribute to the protection of children and young people.

We have a Council that is made up of elected registered teachers, educationalists and lay members that make decisions on matters of policy. Our Council is formed every four years to represent the profession, the wider educational community and the public on important educational issues affecting teachers and teaching.

Our vision

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. We strive to be a world leader in professional educational issues.