The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC Scotland), the independent regulator for teachers in Scotland, has published a report on the teacher conduct referrals it receives.
The report analyses 870 conduct cases and categorises allegations into 12 themes. It also discusses the source of referrals, as well as what happens to referrals once they are received.
Jennifer Macdonald, Strategic Director, GTC Scotland said:
“The overwhelming majority of individuals are fit to teach. We have over 80,000 teachers on our Register and we receive Fitness to Teach referrals for about 200 teachers each year.
“Most of these referrals are concerns about the character or behaviour of a teacher.
“As well as helping inform the profession and the public about our Fitness to Teach work, we want the information in this report to prevent harm and stop things going wrong in the first place.
“Our analysis has found that the most common type of allegations are to do with verbal or physical aggression, dishonesty, driving offences, failure to follow process and procedures and inappropriate behaviour or language.
“We are encouraging our partners to read this report and reflect on the actions they can take to help embed teaching standards and manage risk.”
Allegations by category
The 12 allegation categories, ranked from most to least common are:
1. verbal/physical aggression (19%)
2. dishonesty (16%)
3. driving offences (15%)
4. processes/procedures (14%)
5. inappropriate behaviour/language (12%)
6. bullying / discrimination (6%)
7. inadequate learner care/support (5%)
8. inappropriate relationships (4%)
9. child abuse/neglect (3%)
10. child/adult safeguarding (3%)
11. alcohol/drugs (2%)
12. other (2%)
Where referrals come from
Employers referred most of the cases GTC Scotland received (30%). This was closely followed by referrals from members of the public (27%).
Teachers referred themselves into the process in 22% of the cases, mostly by telling GTC Scotland about their background as part of their application for registration.
Disclosure Scotland notification under the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) certificate accounts for 12% of referrals and 4% of referrals are from when the agency places a teacher under consideration for listing as barred from regulated work.
What happens to the allegations received?
Almost half of the cases GTC Scotland received about the conduct of teachers are closed at initial consideration stage. This is because the regulator reaches the decision that what has been referred does not justify an investigation.
GTC Scotland investigates when an allegation is of a level of seriousness that the teacher is a risk to learners and/or colleagues or to public confidence in the teaching profession.
Of the cases that progressed to investigation stage, just over one-third (34%) closed because GTC Scotland concluded that no further action was required, or no further action could be taken based on the evidence available.
Most (61.6%) of the cases that concluded at panel consideration stage and at a hearing (72.7%) resulted in some form of action.
Read the Fitness to Teach insight report: conduct referrals
