You are here: Home > Registration > Independent Schools Registration Apply for Registration Qualified in Scotland Qualified outside Scotland College Lecturer Additional Support Needs Independent Schools Becoming a Teacher Instrumental Music Instructors Return to the Register and Teaching Manage your Registration Add an additional subject/sector Retire/Cancel Registration Update your contact and employment details Proof of registration in Scotland (LOPS) Fee and Criminal Records Checks Registration Fee Criminal Record Checks Independent Schools Registration Do I need to be registered with GTCS? As of 1 October 2017 all teachers working in Independent Schools (including Education Through Care Establishments) are required to register with GTCS in accordance with the Registration of Independent Schools (Prescribed Person) (Scotland) Regulations 2017. Important: we have provided a useful definition of a teacher in our FAQ section below. I am being appointed as a teacher at a school after 1 October 2017 You are required to be GTCS registered before taking up your post. Our standard registration requirements will apply to you and the relevant information and application form can be found here. I was employed as a teacher at my current school before 1 October 2017 You have until 1 October 2020 to obtain GTCS registration. There are a number of registration categories available to teachers in the sector. A list of these is provided below. Additional categories, which will provide even greater flexibility, are in development. Categories of Registration in Independent and Education Through Care sectors I am currently employed at a school in a non-teaching role and would like to become a teacher there If you are currently employed at a school in a non-teaching role (e.g. Teaching Assistant) you will need to meet the standard GTCS registration requirements (including holding a recognised degree and teaching qualification) before being appointed to a teaching post or taking on sole responsibility for the roles and responsibilities of a teacher. These roles and responsibilities are set out in the FAQs below under Definition of a Teacher. Frequently Asked Questions Who is covered by the new regulations? What is the definition of a teacher? The new regulations cover anyone who operates in a teaching role. This does not include sports coaches or school chaplains. If you are in doubt, look at your contract of employment and reflect on whether you have the responsibilities of a teacher. Definition of a Teacher A Teacher has sole responsibility for: Planning the curriculum Delivering of the curriculum Assessment including presentation for formal examinations Reporting Recording Parental Engagement A more detailed definition can be found in section 2.2. of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Handbook. What can I do now to prepare for registration? All teachers at independent schools should ensure that their details are up-to-date within their school. Teachers can apply now by making contact with GTCS directly. You are encouraged to apply now to allow our staff to offer the best advice, and to give you time to consider your application and any steps you may have to make to achieve Full Registration. As of October 2017 and the enactment of the Education (Scotland) Act, you should make sure that you are eligible to be registered with GTCS. If you don’t have the prerequisite qualifications, you should make efforts to achieve this. What are the qualifications required to achieve full registration with GTCS? You can see relevant information about the qualifications required on the following pages: Eligibility - teachers working in Independent Schools qualified in UK or Rest of World (not EU, EEA or Switzerland) Eligibility – teachers who are fully qualified in an EU/EEA Member State (not UK) or in Switzerland Qualified in Scotland I have been awarded QTS elsewhere in the UK, after completion of an emplotment based route. What options are open to me? Teachers who have obtained QTS elsewhere in the UK via completion of a structured programme of study completed on an in-service basis (e.g. the GTP of Schools Direct (Salaried Route) without PGCE) can apply for Provisional (Conditional) registration. They will be able to go on to obtain full registration after completion of a top up programme and confirmation of satisfactory and relevant teaching service meeting our probationary service requirement. Please note that this option is not available if you obtained QTS via an Assessment Only route and you should apply for Named School Only Registration. We have accredited two 'top up' programmes: University of Aberdeen - PG Cert Education Studies (with Scottish Teaching Qualification) University of Northampton - PGCE Top-up (Primary/ Early Years/ Secondary) I'm an ASN teacher - can I register in ASN? The Additional Support Needs (ASN) registration category relates to teaching in the 3-18 years age range and is not subject specific. Teachers who are currently employed as an Additional Support Needs (ASN) teacher in an Independent School and were appointed before 1 October 2017 can apply for registration in ASN. Further information about this registration, and the requirements, can be found here: ASN Registration We recommend that teachers who are delivering the curriculum aim to register in the most appropriate mainstream registration category - Primary Education or Secondary Registration (in at least one of the subject areas being delivered). However, we are aware of the need for flexibility in some cases, and teachers are advised to have a discussion with their school and decide which type of registration is most relevant and appropriate to them. Additional Support Needs (ASN) Registration – Teachers Employed as ASN teachers in Independent Schools (including Education Through Care Scotland – EtCS – Establishments) Prior to 1/10/17 *although Grant Aided Schools in Scotland are also Independent Schools, the transitional arrangements do not apply in their case. What are the minimum requirements? Appointed to post of ASN teacher in an Independent School or EtCS Establishment prior to 1 October 2017 A degree (or equivalent qualification) What type of registration will be awarded (Full, Provisional or Provisional Conditional)? This depends on the qualifications held by the teacher and the service that they have completed in ASN. Mainstream Teaching Qualification (TQ) or ASN award held Provisional (Conditional) Registration – this will be awarded if the applicant has given less than two years of full-time ASN teaching service (or the part-time equivalent). Up to 190 days’ full-time (or 270 days' part-time) probationary teaching service will apply. The condition will be that the teacher may only work as an ASN teacher in the Independent Sector until Full Registration is granted. Full registration – this will be awarded if the applicant has given two years of full-time ASN teaching service (or part-time equivalent). The ASN award needs to be at SCQF level 9 or above and bear a minimum of 60 SCQF credits. Some applicants may be enrolled on a Master's programme and wish to continue to study for the PGDip or Master's degree rather than to exit with a PGCert after completing 60 SCQF credit points. In such cases, we will be able to accept confirmation from the awarding institution that the applicant is enrolled on the programme and has successfully completed modules bearing 60 credit points, in lieu or an award certificate. Teaching service in ASN given prior to the award of an ASN award can be considered towards the teaching service requirement. No Mainstream TQ or ASN award held Provisional (Conditional) Registration. The condition will be to complete a Teaching Qualification (e.g. University of Highlands and Islands TQ Practitioner Route PGDip) or appropriate ASN award (see note above). If the applicant has not already taught in ASN for 2 years' full-time (or the part-time equivalent), a probationary period of up to 190 days' full-time (or 270 days' part-time) teaching service will apply. Once the above condition and probation requirement have been met, Full Registration will be awarded. Will there be a time limit for meeting the condition (where Provisional (Conditional) Registration has been awarded)? It is not planned to impose a time limit at present. However, this will be reviewed after 5 years. Where will these teachers be able to work? Teaching service, following the award of ASN registration via this route, will be restricted to within Independent Schools (including EtCS establishments) unless/until the teacher has been awarded Full Registration. Once the teacher has achieved Full Registration in ASN, and has parity with teachers who have qualified and registered in ASN in line with GTCS’ standard registration rules, the restriction will no longer apply to their teaching service and they will be able to take up a post in any school. When will registration start to be awarded in this new category? We can accept applications now. I would like to study for a teaching qualification. Are there any available for teachers in Independent Schools that I can complete whilst in post? SCIS has developed the Postgraduate Diploma Teaching Qualification (Practitioner Route) with the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). This is a part-time, distance learning programme, specifically for the independent school sector, which enables you to evidence the Standard for Full Registration. Please note that this programme is not an initial teacher education programme and is not intended for those without experience of teaching. Further details appear on the UHI website. We have accredited the IPGCE (Independent PGCE) at the University of Buckingham. Further details appear on the university's website. I am a supply teacher. Do I need to register? Supply teachers who are working in Independent Schools are required to be registered with GTCS. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for Full Registration in one of our standard registration categories, you should apply for Named School Only Registration. This will allow you to teach in the school (or identified cluster of schools) where you are currently employed as a supply teacher. If you meet the eligibility requirements for Full Registration in one of our standard registration categories we would recommend that you apply for registration in the relevant standard registration category online here. However, you also have the option of applying for Named School Only Registration. If you are currently employed in a permanent post but are close to retirement and seeking to take up supply teaching after this at your current school (or an identified cluster of schools which your current school is part of) please contact us for further information. Eligibility Requirements To be eligible for Full Registration you would require - a degree (or equivalent qualification) - a teaching qualification - at least 270 day’s full-time equivalent teaching service in your teaching qualification area. Route maps to registration Route map to registration for teachers in an independent school (including EtCS) Route map to ASN registration for teachers in an independent school (including EtCS) Route map to registration for supply teachers in an independent school (including EtCS) Route map to registration for teachers in preparatory schools Route map to registration for teachers in independent schools (appointed after 1 October 2017) Application Forms ASN Independent Schools Application Form Named School Only Registration Application UHI TQ Practitioner Route Provisional (Conditional) Registration Application Other useful downloads PowerPoint Presentation for Headteachers (November 2018) UHI TQ Practitioner Route - Registration Requirements and Guidance Contacts If you require any further advice about Independent School registration, please contact Claire Williamson, Registration Assessment Team Leader e: Claire.williamson@gtcs.org.uk t: 0131 314 6050