Home > Professional Update > Research and Practitioner Enquiry > Awards > Accreditation of Programmes Leading to Professional Recognition Process What do I need to know and do? Your Professional Context Deferral Process Direct Submissions Professional Learning What is Professional Learning? Using Evidence of Impact Professional Review and Development Coaching and Mentoring Awards and Professional Recognition Resources Hub Research and Practitioner Enquiry Research Practitioner Enquiry Accreditation of Programmes Leading to Professional Recognition GTC Scotland recognises the need for high-quality professional learning and development programmes to ensure that teacher professionalism is maintained and enhanced and that learning experiences are professionally recognised and valued. We welcome submissions from providers who wish to have their professional learning and development programmes accredited with the award of Professional Recognition if they meet with the required guidelines for accreditation. What are the requirements for programme accreditation? We define accreditation as the process of ascertaining the professional acceptability of a learning and development programme leading to the award of Professional Recognition for course participants. There are specific features required to achieve Professional Recognition accreditation that must be embedded within a programme for it to be successfully accredited. Accreditation of Programmes leading to Professional Recognition - Guidance (PDF) The specific features include: A clearly articulated rationale for the programme Alignment with the national Professional Learning Model Enquiry and research and the dispositions required for this as outlined in the Standard for Career-Long Professional Learning or other appropriate Standard Alignment to features of enquiry at SCQF level 11 Focus on the individual's personal and professional learning and development, linked to the particular area of expertise. This includes a personal self-evaluation process Enhanced academic and professional knowledge of the subject/ topic/ issue Enhanced professional actions within the specific educational context and/ or the wider educational community Critical reflection on the learning and development within the area of expertise Clear understanding and analysis of the impact of this learning and development on self/ learners/colleagues' professional practice Evidence of collaborative practice Professional discussion with line manager as an integral part of Professional Review and Development (PRD) discussions An opportunity for participants to evidence their professional learning as part of the programme Standard for Career-Long Professional Learning A Model of Professional Learning (PDF) Scottish Framework for Masters in Education Apply for Accreditation To apply for accreditation, complete the following form and return to professional.recognition@gtcs.org.uk. Application for Accreditation of Programmes leading to Professional Recognition Professional Recognition Accreditation Panels Professional Recognition Accreditation Panels are convened each month. Prior to bringing a programme forward to panel, GTCS will offer a support meeting with a GTCS Officer who will guide you through the process. Upcoming Professional Recognition panel dates 28 April 2021 27 May 2021 28 June 2021 31 August 2021 23 September 2021 28 October 2021 24 November 2021 9 December 2021 What are the next steps for accredited programmes? Programmes are accredited with Professional Recognition for five years with an interim evaluation highlighting any developments and/or enhancements to the content, nature, duration, staffing or structure of the programme. During this period the accredited programme provider submits to GTCS the lists of candidates who have completed the programme and who wish to be awarded with Professional Recognition. The Certificates can then be either sent directly from GTCS to the teachers or the programme providers, should they wish to organise an event to celebrate with the teachers. Programme providers can make use of the GTCSProfessional Recognition quality mark. They will also be invited to become part of our list of accredited providers for Professional Recognition and to send us a paragraph for inclusion on our website, please see: Accredited Professional Recognition programmes The programme providers must notify GTCS if there are any significant changes in staffing and/or to the structure of the programme during the five-year period covered by accreditation. Renewal after five years Professional Recognition - Renewal At the end of each five-year period, re-accreditation is required. The process is very similar and programme providers are asked as part of the application form to give an overarching statement giving an update on the programme across the period of the award, including any changes and developments made. The panel process is set out in section 4 of the Professional Recognition guidance with one notable difference, the programme provider starts the panel by giving an overview of the Professional Recognised programme across the last 5 years, drawing attention to the impact to this award and any relevant changes and developments. This does not have to be done through a formal presentation Quality Mark All GTCS accredited programmes are awarded with a Quality Mark, a sample of which can be seen below. The mark may be used for the duration of the accredited period, up to five years, where accredited programmes are permitted to use it on all forms of communications. However, using the Quality mark must always be in clear connection with the accredited learning programme and our terms and conditions must be adhered to. Terms and Conditions GTCS Quality Marks: Instructions for Use The Quality Mark may be used for the duration of the accredited period (up to five years). After that time use of this Quality Mark must cease. You are permitted to use the Quality Mark on all forms of communications as appropriate; however, this must always be in clear connection with the particular learning programme that has been accredited. When the Quality Mark is used on digital platforms, e.g. on a website or in an email footer, the Mark should link directly to the Professional Recognition area of the GTCS website at www.gtcs.org.uk/professional-recognition The Quality Mark should not be modified in any way and should be used (where appropriate) with the following description: 'GTC Scotland's Professional Recognition award aims to support teachers to engage in high-quality professional learning and recognises accomplished teaching practice. GTC Scotland accredits a professional learning programme after assessing that it meets the standards expected of the award of Professional Recognition. The Quality Mark is subject to copyright. Full guidance and terms of use are provided in our terms and conditions. GTCS QUALITY MARKS: TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1. INTRODUCTION As the independent professional body which promotes and regulates the teaching profession in Scotland, we act in the public interest in all that we do and aspire to maintain and enhance standards of teaching and learning as well as actively promote teacher professionalism. To this end, we license certain marks for use by eligible institutions in order to assure the public that the institution has, through our independent quality assurance processes, either: (i) had its teacher professional review and development programme validated for the purposes of Professional Update; or (ii) had a professional learning programme accredited for the purposes of Professional Recognition. Our Marks may only be used by eligible institutions following a successful validation or accreditation process, under licence and in accordance with the terms and conditions detailed below. These terms and conditions form an agreement between the eligible institution and us: use of the Marks signifies your acceptance of these terms. 2. INTERPRETATION In these terms and conditions: ‘days’ means calendar days ‘GTCS’ means the General Teaching Council for Scotland ‘GTCS Logo’ means the ‘GTC Scotland’ logo that appears within the Marks ‘Licence’ means the licence granted to you in clause 4 ‘Marks’ means the mark or marks that you have been licensed by us to use according (and subject) to the accreditation and/or validation process that you have successfully completed ‘Professional Recognition’ means the GTCS award that recognises accomplished teacher practice ‘Professional Update’ means the ongoing professional learning, review and development process required to maintain GTCS registration as a teacher ‘We’ or ‘Our’ means GTCS ‘You’ or ‘Your’ means the institution that has been issued with a Licence 3. OWNERSHIP OF THE MARKS 3.1 We are the owner of the Marks and GTCS Logo and you acknowledge this. The use of the GTCS Logo is subject to our written permission and is not covered by the licence set out in these terms and conditions. We warrant that we are authorised to grant you a licence to use the Marks in accordance with these terms and conditions. You will not do anything that might suggest that you own the Marks and you confirm that the only rights you will have in the Marks are set out in these terms and conditions. 3.2 We protect our intellectual property and undertake regular monitoring of the use of our logos and materials. We will take appropriate action (including legal action if required) where we find that our logo or materials are being used in breach of these terms and conditions or without a licence or permission. Please notify us of any third party infringement or abuse of our Marks or the GTCS Logo that comes to your attention. 4. GRANT OF LICENCE 4.1 At the point at which the graphic files for the Marks are supplied to you, we grant you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty free and limited licence to use them. The Licence will remain in force until the date of expiry of the relevant validation or accreditation or until it is withdrawn or suspended by us in accordance with clause 6 of these terms and conditions (whichever is the earlier). 4.2 The Licence may not be sub-licensed, transferred or assigned by you to others. 5. USE OF THE MARKS 5.1 You must use the Marks in accordance with any instructions for use provided to you by us. 5.2 You must not in any way mislead the public as to the scope, purpose and coverage of the Marks. In particular, you must not lead the public to believe that we have endorsed, validated or accredited you, your programmes or any parts of your operation which do not fall within the specific scope of the GTCS accreditation or validation process to which you have been subject and successful. 5.3 From time to time, we may request that you provide us with copies of communications in which you use the Marks. You will provide these communications promptly to us for review. 5.4 The use of the Marks in your communications must enable you to comply with clause 6 in the event we suspend or withdraw the Licence. 5.5 You undertake that you will not misuse the Marks or weaken, damage or do anything that may be detrimental to the reputation of GTCS as a result of your use of the Marks (whether by act or omission; directly or indirectly). 6. LICENCE EXPIRY, SUSPENSION AND WITHDRAWAL 6.1 We may, at our discretion, suspend or withdraw the Licence in the event that: We consider that you have breached these terms and conditions; Your institution materially changes in terms of its constitution or control; or We are required to do so for any operational or legal reasons. We will notify you in writing within 7 days of such a decision. 6.2 We may, at our discretion, give you the opportunity to remedy any breach of these terms of conditions that we have identified in terms of clause 6.1 above within such period as we specify at that time. If the breach cannot be remedied or you fail to do so within such specified time, our decision to suspend or withdraw the Licence will then take immediate effect. 6.3 If the Licence is not withdrawn or suspended, it will continue until its expiry (i.e. when the next accreditation, renewal or validation falls due). 6.4 On suspension, withdrawal or expiry of the Licence you must: Cease all use of the Marks; Remove the Marks from your communications; and Withdraw communications already in circulation that feature the Marks within 7 days. 6.5 If you fail to act in accordance with clause 6.4 above, we will take appropriate action (including legal action if required) and we may hold you liable for any expenses associated (as set out in clause 7). 7. LIABILITY 7.1 We will not be liable to you for any loss, costs, expenses or damages (whether direct, indirect or consequential) arising from your use of the Licence or as a result of the application of these terms and conditions. 7.2 You will indemnify us against all liabilities, costs, expenses, damages or losses (including indirect or consequential and reasonable professional costs) incurred by us as a result of any breach by you of these terms and conditions. 8. GENERAL 8.1 Any notice to be given under these terms and conditions will be sent by first class post or by e-mail to the person’s known correspondence address. The notice will be deemed to have been duly received on: the second business day after posting; or, if e-mailed, on the day of sending if sent during normal business hours (9.00am – 5.00pm) or the day after sending if sent outside such hours. 8.2 Nothing in these terms and conditions is intended, or will operate, to create between you and us an employment or agency relationship or any form of co-operative entity (including, but not limited to, a partnership or joint venture). 8.3 We reserve the right to alter these terms and conditions at any time and to confirm such alterations to you in writing. 8.4 If and in so far as any part of these terms and conditions is or becomes void or unenforceable it will be deemed not to be and never to have formed part of the terms and conditions: the remaining parts will remain in full force and effect. 8.5 These terms and conditions do not create any rights, entitlement, claims or benefits enforceable by any person that is not a party to it. 8.6 These terms and conditions will be governed by and construed in accordance with Scots law and the parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Scottish courts. CONTACTS To make an initial enquiry about Professional Recognition accreditation contact: T: +44(0)131 314 6000 E: professional.recognition@gtcs.org.uk