About us
Who we are
We are the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC Scotland), the independent regulator for teachers in Scotland. We work in the public interest to enhance trust in teachers by setting, upholding and promoting high standards. Our role is set out in law.
Why work for us?
Contribute to improving the quality of teaching and learning in Scotland.
Flexible working is our default and is open to all. You will have flexibility over when and where you work, depending on the requirements of the role. Most of our people choose to primarily work from home but office space is available if preferred. You will be expected to travel to our office in Edinburgh to attend collaborative events and as the role requires.
Learning is one of our core principles. We will support your learning and development to help you perform at your best in your role and to develop your future career.
Annual leave entitlement is a generous 42 days (294 hours).
Local Government Pension Scheme is open to all employees.
Our Values
Trust and Respect – All of us are equally important. We seek out and listen to others’ views. We support each other and build positive working relationships.
Integrity – We do what we say we will. We deliver on our plans and effectively communicate with others. We are committed to continually learning and improving.
Social Justice – We embrace diversity. We understand the importance of positive wellbeing and seek to support each other and our registrants. We want you to feel like you belong.
About the role
What you will do
What you will need to be successful
We don’t expect perfection. If you don’t meet 100% of the requirements but you share our values and you believe you have the potential to be successful in the role we encourage you to still apply.
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team where people can bring their whole selves to work. We want to hire the best person for the role, irrespective of their background. We use a recruitment platform which aims to reduce any unconscious bias.
Working hours / pattern
Application and selection process
If you have a medical condition or other individual need which you believe may affect our interview / assessment arrangements, or your ability to be at your best, please let us know so we can discuss how we can support you and make any adjustments that may be required.
Please note that GTC Scotland is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas.
If you have any questions about the role or about the application process, please contact recruitment@gtcs.org.uk.
Panel member posts are voluntary, unpaid public appointments. Panel members are not employees of GTC Scotland.
Panel members can claim compensation and expenses in line with our policy.
About us
Who we are
We are the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC Scotland), the independent regulator for teachers in Scotland. We work in the public interest to enhance trust in teachers by setting, upholding and promoting high standards. Our role is set out in law.
Why apply
Contribute to improving the quality of teaching and learning in Scotland.
Learning is one of our core principles. A full induction process is provided and we will support your learning and development to help you perform at your best in your role.
Our values
Trust and Respect – All of us are equally important. We seek out and listen to others’ views. We support each other and build positive working relationships.
Integrity – We do what we say we will. We deliver on our plans and effectively communicate with others. We are committed to continually learning and improving.
Social Justice – We embrace diversity. We understand the importance of positive wellbeing and seek to support each other and our registrants. We want you to feel like you belong.
About us
Who we are
We are the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC Scotland), the independent regulator for teachers in Scotland. We work in the public interest to enhance trust in teachers by setting, upholding and promoting high standards. Our role is set out in law.
Why apply
This role provides you with the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of professional regulation, the Professional Standards for Teachers in Scotland and the Code of Professionalism and Conduct (COPAC) and how these are applied in practice.
You will also develop a range of transferable skills including:
- dealing with complex issues and communicating these with empathy and compassion
- principles and practices within professional regulation, including law and procedure
- chairing hearings and meetings
- decision making and protecting rights
We provide a full induction process and ongoing learning and development opportunities to help you perform at your best in your role.
Our values
Trust and Respect – All of us are equally important. We seek out and listen to others’ views. We support each other and build positive working relationships.
Integrity – We do what we say we will. We deliver on our plans and effectively communicate with others. We are committed to continually learning and improving.
Social Justice – We embrace diversity. We understand the importance of positive wellbeing and seek to support each other and our registrants. We want you to feel like you belong.
What we are looking for
We need registered teacher and lay applicants to sit on our Fitness to Teach panels. Panels play a crucial role in upholding high standards in teaching by hearing evidence and making decisions about the fitness to teach of individuals who apply to be, or who are, registered with GTC Scotland.
Time commitment
We need panel members with a good level of availability.
Panel members need to be flexible and responsive to our requirements. Hearings last on average between 4 and 6 days. A number of hearings are more complex and so can take longer at around 8 to 10 days.
In 2026, in order to ensure case throughput, we require to schedule full hearings with a combined total of more than 200 hearing days. We need to significantly increase the number of panel members in order to meet this demand in 2026 and beyond.
Some hearings take place virtually and others will be held in person at our office in Edinburgh. You would need to be available to attend both. Once we know that a case is going to a hearing, in most cases we schedule the hearing early on and so need your availability many months ahead.
In addition to hearings, panel members also attend panel meetings. These meetings take place virtually and last for a full day.
Preparation time, for example reading of case papers for hearings, is in addition to the days sitting as panel member. Case papers can range from a few pages to hundreds of pages.
GTC Scotland does not guarantee a minimum number of days attendance.
If you are currently in employment, you must have your application endorsed by your employer. They must be in agreement to your release to be involved in this work.
What you will need to be successful
- For registered teacher applicants, current full or provisional registration with GTC Scotland (if your registration has lapsed, you should apply for re-registration).
- For lay applicants, you must not be, nor have ever been registered, with GTC Scotland and you must not hold a qualification which would make you eligible for registration with GTC Scotland.
- A good level of availability to commit to multi-day and in-person hearings.
- Independence of mind and ability to demonstrate fairness.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Ability to work successfully as part of a team.
- A real commitment to the role, a determination to make a difference and to maintain high standards in teaching.
We don’t expect perfection. If you don’t meet 100% of the requirements but you share our values and you believe you have the potential to be successful in the role we encourage you to still apply.
Application and selection process
- Apply via Applied by the closing date of midnight on Sunday 8 February 2026.
- We will notify successful applicants and invite them onto the induction programme by Monday 2 March 2026.
- Mandatory induction training will take place on Thursday 26 March 2026 OR Thursday 30 April 2026 at Clerwood House, 96 Clermiston Road, Edinburgh EH12 6UT. You must be available to attend one of these training sessions as a condition of appointment to the role. We advise you to hold these dates in your diary.
If you have a medical condition or other individual need which you believe may affect our interview / assessment arrangements, or your ability to be at your best please, let us know so we can discuss how we can support you and make any adjustments that may be required.
To find out more about the role you can visit the Fitness to Teach area of our website.
Hear from a former convener about what panels do and how they make decisions in an article from the Teaching Scotland magazine, 'Upholding trust in teaching'.
If you have any questions about the role or about the application process, please contact governance@gtcs.org.uk.
Summary
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About us
Who we are
We are the General Teaching Council for Scotland. We work to maintain and enhance trust in teaching.
We set and uphold the standards for entering and remaining in the teaching profession, and outline the conduct expected of teachers and college lecturers.
We also investigate and determine serious concerns about the conduct or professional competence of teachers through our Fitness to Teach process.
Our Fitness to Teach Panels are concerned with considering and determining allegations made that a teacher (or applicant) has fallen short of the expected standards of conduct or competence.
Our values
Trust and Respect – All of us are equally important. We seek out and listen to others’ views. We support each other and build positive working relationships.
Integrity – We do what we say we will. We deliver on our plans and effectively communicate with others. We are committed to continually learning and improving.
Social Justice – We embrace diversity. We understand the importance of positive wellbeing and seek to support each other and our registrants. We want you to feel like you belong.
The role
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team where people can bring their whole selves to work. We want to recruit the best people for the role, irrespective of their background. We use a recruitment platform which aims to reduce any unconscious bias.
Why apply
Make a difference to the quality of learning and teaching for children, young people and adult learners in Scotland.
Application and selection process
If you have a disability and need us to provide the application materials in an alternative format or require assistance in completing it, please let us know.
If you have a medical condition or other individual need which you believe may affect our interview/assessment arrangements, or your ability to be at your best, please let us know, so we can discuss how we can support you and make any adjustments that may be required.
