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Research

We recognise the importance of research to Scottish teachers and Scottish education. Our research strategy aims to:

• encourage teachers to use and take part in research as part of their CPD
• build a strong evidence base to inform policy
• share research findings with teachers and with the wider community in Scotland

Latest News

Employment Statistics 2011-12

We carry out a survey every Autumn of teachers who have participated in the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS), a probation programme described as 'world-leading' in an international survey by the OECD.

The full Employment Survey of 2011 – 2012 Probationer Teachers can be viewed below:

• Employment Survey Report Probationer Teacher 2011-12
• Employment Survey Report Probationer Teacher 2011-12 Appendix

Read our news article in Teaching Scotland online:

Employment Survey Report Probationer Teacher 2011-12

GTC Scotland Research Strategy

At its September meeting, the Council approved the strategic plan for 2012-2014. The new plan reviews activity over the past three years and outlines projected initiatives for the next three.

• GTC Scotland Research Strategy

Diverse teachers for diverse learners

Ian Matheson attended the sixth and final seminar in this series funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. The seminar, at Oxford University, brought together the findings from previous ones which considered issues such as:

• Current policy initiatives nationally and internationally, notably the issue of under-recruitment and retention across the western world of teachers from people from ethnic and linguistic minorities
• Making educational environments culturally and linguistically rich
• Barriers facing teachers from minority ethnic backgrounds, including overt and implicit racism
• Pupil views on teachers, which showed a lack of awareness on their part of the lack of diversity
• Experiences from Norway, Iceland and Canada of confronting diversity in the teaching population

Apart from the formal report the findings will be published in a variety of journal articles and other media.

SERA conference

The recent SERA conference held in Ayr from 21-23 November contained a number of contributions by staff from GTC Scotland. Gillian Hamilton, Mairi McAra and Rosa Murray took part in a symposium called Re-defining the teaching profession with Professor Christine Forde and Dr Margery McMahon from Glasgow University, sharing outcomes from current work in progress on the review of GTC Scotland Standards, on the development of Professional Update and on the concept of accomplished teaching. Rosa also contributed to a symposium with Dr Zoe Williamson of Edinburgh University, Graeme Logan from Education Scotland and practitioner researchers from schools in Edinburgh on the issue of Teachers as Enquiring Professionals. Ian Matheson gave a presentation on the origins of and issues surrounding the first Council 1965-1971.

Delegates heard keynote addresses from Yolande Muschamp of Dundee University, Iram Siraj-Blatchford of London University and Walter Humes of Stirling University and papers from researchers from across Scotland, from England, Wales and Iceland. These included teachers, postgraduate students and people from several local authorities.

Teacher Education Teachers' Work Workshops

The Teacher Education Teachers’ Work (TETW) Research network: a partnership between the University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow with the GTC Scotland are hosting a series of workshops.

These workshops will complement the TETW seminar series 2012-2013 and the annual conference.

The aim of the workshops is to provide opportunities to share and respond to issues and dilemmas which may be encountered by researchers within the research process.

Find out how you can take part:

• Teacher Education Teachers' Work (TETW) Research Workshops 2012-13

Publications

We issue published research and teacher research throughout the year.

Published Research

Our most recent published research is Reflecting on experiences of people with disabilities participating in the Teacher Induction Scheme: report on survey responses.  This report summarises the views of 66 teachers with disabilities on their experiences in university and during their probationary year.

Their responses reveal contrasting experiences.  Some received excellent support at university and in school while others expressed their fear of discrimination should they disclose their disabilities or actual barriers to their development.  Though the sample is small, the report presents challenges for school managers and for teachers in their own approaches to dealing with colleagues who have disabilities.

View all of our Published Research.

Teacher Research

Our most recent teacher researcher report was written by Jane Carson, a teacher at Wallace Hall Academy in Dumfries and Galloway. The report evaluates the impact on the planning and delivery of learning programmes in the school as a result of the introduction of Teaching for Understanding as a whole school initiative. She found that the level of impact of the initiative varied widely, largely depending on the subject taught and the career phase of the teachers.

View all of our Teacher Research.