24-25/91

I refer to your request for information dated 04 February2025 (FOI 24-25/91) in which you asked for the “number of probationer teachers taking up the Preference Waiver Payment” each year since it was introduced and the “value of the payment” for “primary school probation teachers” and “secondary probation teachers” which we have handled under the Freedom of Information(Scotland) Act (FOISA).

Please see find the attached records for disclosure labelled “FOI 24-25_91_Records" which is a response to a previous Freedom of Information request. This contains the number of individuals who selected the Preference Waiver Payment from 2004/05 to 2021/22.

For 2020/21 to 2024/25, please see the allocations page on our website. As this information is reasonably accessible, I have applied section 25(1) of FOISA to this portion of your request.

We do not hold records prior to 2004 and apply section 17(1)(b) of FOISA to this portion of your request.

You also asked for the “value of the payment” to Primary and Secondary teachers since it began. The Preference Waiver Payment is made through the Teacher Induction Scheme which is run by the Scottish Government. GTC Scotland is independent and currently administers some aspects of the scheme as a contracted service. We do not hold records on the amounts paid since the Preference Waiver Payment began and have applied section 17(1)(b) of FOISA to this query. The amount currently paid to Secondary teachers is £8000 and £6000 to Primary teachers (minus tax and national insurance contributions).

You may contact informationgovernance@gtcs.org.uk if you are dissatisfied with this response, to request GTC Scotland conduct a review of it. You should describe the original request and explain your grounds of review. You have 40 working days from receipt of this response 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 do so.