26-27/008

We refer to your request for information (FOI 26-27/008) dated 15 May 2026 which we have handled under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).

Your request:

You asked us to provide you will the following information:

1. The current number of registrants holding Named School Only registration.
2. A breakdown, where available, of the sectors in which these registrants are employed (e.g. independent schools, ASN settings, etc.) how many NSO registrants have held this status for: under 5 years; 5–10 years; over 10 years.
3. The number of NSO registrants, if recorded, who have subsequently achieved: Full Registration; Provisional Registration; Further Education registration; or any other GTCS registration category.
4. Any recorded information, reports, consultations, meeting minutes, or discussion papers produced since 2021 relating to: progression pathways for NSO registrants; alternative/flexible registration routes; or recognition of prior professional experience for NSO registrants.
5. Any recorded information regarding the rationale for closing the NSO category to new registrants in 2021.

Our response:

In response to part 1 of your request, we confirm that, based upon data extracted on 4 June 2026, the number of Registrants holding Named School Only (NSO) registrations was 93.

In response to part 2 of your request, we confirm that all Named School Only registrants have self-reported that they are working for independent schools. GTC Scotland does not categorise these schools based on Additional Support Needs.

In response to part 3 of your request, we confirm that we hold information about 7 individuals who held Named School Only registration and subsequently gained registration in another category. The breakdown of subsequently achieved registrations is as follows:

• Full Registration - 5
• Provisional Registration - 1
• Further Education Registration – 1

In response to part 4 of your request, we confirm that we hold some information falling within the description that you have provided. However, that information is exempt from disclosure to you under FOISA under section 25(1) of FOISA as it has been published on our website and is therefore information which you can reasonably obtain other than by requesting it under section 1(1) of FOISA. That information can be found on our website, specifically, the collected responses to consultation on the registration rules.

In response to part 5 of your request, we confirm that we hold information relating to the rationale for closing the Named School Only category. We are disclosing some of that information to you, which is attached to this response (FOI 26-27/008-Records) together with an inventory of documents.

However, we have withheld some information from you that falls within part 5 of your request, under the exemption contained in section 30(c) of FOISA. That information is in the form of a draft and incomplete version of a letter that was prepared within GTC Scotland, the final version of which you have been provided with. GTC Scotland requires a private space to prepare draft correspondence and obtain comments on drafts from across our wider team. To perform its regulatory functions, GTC Scotland needs to obtain contributions to, and comments on, a draft that are free and frank in nature and of necessity. Disclosure of draft text and comments on this occasion would have a chilling effect on contributions and comments from our team in the future and undermine our ability to perform our functions as effectively as possible. It would therefore significantly prejudice the conduct of our affairs as a regulatory body performing its functions.

Our application of the exemption in section 30(c) of FOISA is subject to a public interest test under FOISA, requiring us to balance the public interest in favour of disclosure against the public interest in maintaining the exemption. We recognise a general public interest in the transparent operation of public authorities. However, in the circumstances of this case we consider that there is a stronger public interest in maintaining the section 30(c) exemption as it is clearly in the public interest for a regulatory body such as GTC Scotland to be able to perform its statutory functions as effectively as possible, including ensuring that draft communications are subject to free and frank scrutiny without any inhibition. We therefore consider that the public interest in withholding this information outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Right to review and appeal:

You may request a review of how we have dealt with this information request if you are dissatisfied with this response. This can be done by contacting us at informationgovernance@gtcs.org.uk, describing your original request and explaining the basis for your dissatisfaction. You have 40 working days from receipt of this response to submit a review request.

Once the review process has been completed, if you are still dissatisfied, you have 6 months in which you can apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision. See the Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance on making an appeal for information about how to do this.