Summary of request
Full request
For each of the last eight years (2016-2023), I would like to know the number of GTCS registered teachers who unregistered/left the GTCS register. For each year could you also make it clear the total number of teachers registered with the GTCS that year (this is so I can work out the proportion that left the register each year).
-as far as possible, for each year, could you please provide a breakdown of the figures by reason for leaving/unregistering/allowing registration to lapse – so for instance retirement; maternity leave; leaving to teach overseas; leaving the profession; removal from the register under Fitness to Teach process etc
-could you also provide a breakdown for each year by registration category – so of those that left the register or unregistered how many were from primary, secondary, ASN. For each year could you also make it clear the total number of teachers registered in each category.
- Looking at teachers who lapsed/were removed from the GTCS register in each of the last eight years (2016-2023), please specify, for each of the last eight years (2016-2023), how many of these individuals were new/early phase registrants who had achieved the standard for full registration and had fully registered with the GTCS in the preceding five years (i.e. in the five years leading up to 2016, the five years leading up to 2017, and so on)
Response
I write with reference to your request for information (FOI 23-24 /92) dated 13 February 2024 which we have handled under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FOISA).You asked various queries for information on the Register of GTC Scotland. Please see our response to each of your queries below.
Firstly, you asked for the “number of GTCS registered teachers who unregistered / left the GTCS Register” with the “total number of teachers registered with GTCS that year” between 2016 and 2023. You also asked that we provided a “breakdown of the figures by reason for leaving” where possible.
I have provided this information in the relation information below. Please note that the information below is based on calendar years whilst the total number of Registrants is the amount reported at the end of the registration year which runs from 1 April to 31 March.
You will see that I have not provided the exact number where the number is fewer than five. This is because disclosing these low numbers could enable individuals to be identified. This would breach the data protection principles set out in data protection legislation. FOISA does not require us to provide this sort of information as it is exempt under section 38(1)(b).Secondly, you asked for a “breakdown for each year by registration category” of the individuals who have left the Register to specify how many “were from primary, secondary, ASN.”
I have provided this information in Table 2 below. You may note there are more removals in Table 2 than in Table 1, this is because there are more registrations than Registrants as a single Registrant can hold multiple registrations.
Thirdly, you asked for “the total number of teachers registered in each category” to accompany the number of removals referenced in Table 2. Please note that as the register operates as a current register, we are unable to report information unless it was otherwise extracted at the time. I have therefore applied section 17(1)(b) of FOISA to the total number of registrations for 2016 to 2021 as this information is not held.
However, we can provide information for 2022 and 2023 and have provided this information in Table 4 below. Please note that this information was collected on 30 June of each year. I have provided this information in Table 4 below.
Fourthly, you asked for the number of “teachers who lapsed / were removed from the GTCS register in each of the last eight years” that were “new / early phase registrants who had achieved the standard for full registration and had fully registered with the GTCS in the preceding five years.”
In preparing our response we noted we would have to spend excessive resources locating, retrieving and providing the information which would incur a fee of over £100 under section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act. Specifically, we spent approximately 12.7 hours collating the information at £15 per hour. However, in this instance, under our duty to provide advice and assistance under section 15 of FOISA we have chosen to waive the fee in this instance and provide it free of charge.
Please see our response in Table 5 below. Please note that the table below displays the number of Registrants who were either removed from or left the Register within 5 years of achieving the Standard for Full Registration. These individuals may have completed a period of Provisional Registration prior to gaining Full Registration or they may have met the Standard for Full Registration at the point of joining the Register, for example, some individuals who Qualified Outside Scotland.
I hope this information is helpful. If you are dissatisfied with this response, you may contact informationgovernance@gtcs.org.uk to request GTCS conduct a review of this decision. You should describe the original request and explain your grounds of review. You have 40 working days from receipt of this decision to submit a review request. When the review process has been completed, if you are still dissatisfied, you may use the Scottish Information Commissioner`s guidance on making an appeal to make an appeal to the Commissioner
