Committees and Panels

The Conveners Committee:

• act and make appropriate decisions on behalf of Council (with the exception of the functions of Council to make rules and schemes) between Council meetings;
• ensure that arrangements are in place that secure the effective risk management of GTC Scotland and monitor such arrangements appropriately;
• oversee implementation of any Council communication strategy; and
• direct strategically the commissioning of research by GTC Scotland to inform it of its functions.
• advise, inform and put forward recommendations or proposals to Council (or its other committees or sub-committees where appropriate) on all aspects of:
  • shaping and advancing the strategic direction of GTC Scotland and the Council;
  • GTC Scotland’s annual report;
  • establishing and reviewing GTC Scotland’s communication strategy;
  • the governance of the Council including the establishment and review of the Standing Order and Committee Scheme, the Election Scheme, the Appointments Scheme and Code of Conduct and Membership Scheme together with any related policies; and
  • the establishment of such other registers of other individuals working in educational settings as is seen fit.

In addition, the Conveners Committee is empowered to delegate any of its functions and responsibilities to such other GTC Scotland committees or sub-committees as it sees fit.

The Professional Regulatory Assurance Committee:

• consider the decisions of Fitness to Teach to identify any trends, themes or issues;
• establish and review practice statements, policy and guidance to support the implementation of the Framework on Teacher Competence, Fitness to Teach and Registration and Standards Rules;
• oversee implementation of the performance review process prescribed by Council in respect of members of Fitness to Teach Panels;
• keep itself informed of any appeal or judicial review proceedings related to the Fitness to Teach Panels and take such action as is seen fit (within the scope of the Committee’s other delegated responsibilities) as a result of the outcomes of those proceedings; and
• commission and publish research when appropriate with regard to the functions and responsibilities delegated to the committee.
• advise, inform and put forward recommendations or proposals to Council (or its other committees or sub-committees where appropriate) on:
  • the establishment, promotion and review of the standard of conduct expected of a registrant;
  • the establishment, implementation and review of the Fitness to Teach Rules;
  • the establishment, implementation and review of a Framework on Teacher Competence; and
  • any report, consultation exercise, issue or debate arising relating to professional regulation in teaching and comparable professions.

The Education Committee:

• carry out, commission and publish research to inform GTC Scotland and stakeholders with regard to the functions and responsibilities delegated to the Education Committee; and
• oversee the actions of the Programme Accreditation, Professional Update Validation and Professional Learning and Excellence Awards Panels.
• advise, inform and put forward recommendations or proposals to Council (or its other committees or sub-committees where appropriate) on:
  • all aspects of the establishment, promotion and review of professional standards for teachers (excluding in respect of conduct and the procedures for dealing with any teacher’s alleged lack of professional competence which are both delegated to the Professional Regulatory Assurance Committee);
  • any policy or guidance related to a scheme of probationary service for provisional teachers;
  • any policy or guidance related to the Standard for Headship process;
  • GTC Scotland’s Statement of Registration Principles and Practice for applicants who have qualified as teachers outside Scotland;
  • all aspects of the establishment, promotion and review of a professional recognition award scheme for teachers;
  • the supply of teachers in Scotland (excluding matters of remuneration or conditions of service);
  • the education and career long professional learning of teachers;
  • all aspects of establishing and reviewing a scheme setting out measures to be undertaken for the purposes of allowing GTC Scotland to keep itself informed about the standards of education and career long professional learning of teachers;
  • all aspects of establishing and reviewing the requirements for entry to courses leading to a GTC Scotland recognised teaching qualification;
  • all aspects of enhancing and promoting the registration of teachers within the further education sector;
  • any rules, policy or guidance applicable to a Programme Accreditation Panel or the programme accreditation process;
  • the establishment, implementation and review of the Registration and Standards Rules; and
  • any education related consultation exercise, issue or debate arising and of interest to GTC Scotland.

The Finance and Corporate Services Commitee:

• secure the effective risk and budget management as well as internal and financial control of GTC Scotland;
• manage GTC Scotland’s banking, investment and insurance arrangements and policies;
• oversee the actions of the Audit and Staffing Sub-Committees;
• ensure that GTC Scotland meets its responsibilities as a good employer which includes overseeing policy matters related to the remuneration and conditions of service of GTC Scotland employees (excluding the Chief Executive) and staff organisation and structure;
• secure the effective management of GTC Scotland property as well as establish, review and oversee policies related to the procurement by GTC Scotland of goods and services;
• ensure that GTC Scotland, as a body with charitable status, complies with any applicable charities legislation;
• oversee implementation of any GTC Scotland information and technology strategy;
• ensure the maintenance and security of the register;
• establish, review and oversee the implementation of policies related to GTC Scotland’s compliance with data protection, health and safety, equality and diversity and freedom of information legislation as well as with regard to service complaints;
• oversee implementation of the Election, Appointments and Code of Conduct and Membership Schemes (including the performance review process prescribed by Council as regards Council members); and
• commission and publish research when appropriate with regard to the functions and responsibilities delegated to the committee.
• advise, inform and put forward recommendations or proposals to Council (or its other committees or sub-committees where appropriate) on:
  • GTC Scotland’s annual budget and accounts;
  • the remuneration of the Chief Executive;
  • setting registration and any other similar GTC Scotland fees;
  • establishing and reviewing GTC Scotland’s information and technology strategy;
  • GTC Scotland’s expenses and compensation policy (or similar) for members; and
  • any consultation exercise, report or similar arising that is of relevance to the Committee’s other delegated responsibilities.

Council has also established an Appointments Committee consisting solely of appointed teachers and lay persons who are independent from Council:

• appointing members as set out in the Appointments Scheme; and
• adjudicating any case referred to it in accordance with the terms of the Code of Conduct and Membership Scheme.

Quorum: three appointed members, including a registrant and a lay person.

Find out more about the process and how appointments are made:

Adjudicate any case referred to it in terms of the Registration and Standards Rules relating to professional standards.

Quorum: three, including a lay person and a majority of registrants (drawn from the appointed Education Panel pool).

Scrutinise, review and accredit programmes leading to the award of a GTC Scotland recognised teaching qualification in accordance with any applicable GTC Scotland procedural rules, policy or guidance.

Quorum: five, minimum of three drawn from the appointed Education Panel pool (including a lay person or non-registrant and majority of registrants) one university representative and one local authority representative.

Make a Professional Recognition Award.

Quorum: four, including one member of the appointed Education Panel pool acting as Chair, one university representative and two local authority representatives.

Validate/revalidate employer Professional Review and Development systems or schemes in the context of GTC Scotland’s Professional Update framework.

Quorum: two, including one drawn from the appointed Education Panel pool acting as Chair and either one local authority representative or one university representative.

Adjudicate fitness to teach referrals made about registrants or those seeking registration in accordance with the terms of the Fitness to Teach Rules.

Quorum: three, including a lay person and a majority of registrants.

Adjudicate any case referred to it in terms of the Registration and Standards Rules relating to registration.

Quorum: three, including a lay person and a majority of registrants.