The General Teaching Council for Scotland [GTC Scotland], the independent professional and regulatory body for teachers in Scotland, has published its report following a three-month public consultation on proposed updated Registration Rules, intended to replace the current Registration and Standards Rules 2015.
The consultation received 256 responses from individual teachers, national education bodies, students/pupils, college lecturers, schools and local authorities, among others. GTC Scotland engaged an external independent researcher to analyse the consultation responses.
It was intended that the proposed Registration Rules come into effect from April 4, 2022. Following consideration of the consultation report, however, it has become clear that further engagement and consultation with stakeholders is required to clarify various important elements impacting upon the proposed Registration Rules, in order to find joint solutions.
Dr Pauline Stephen, chief executive and registrar at GTC Scotland said: “GTC Scotland welcomes the level of engagement with the public consultation, and thanks all those who took the time to respond and help inform our work.
“By listening to the feedback of our partners and education stakeholders, it has become clear that greater clarification and understanding of existing registration arrangements is required to ensure that we develop the best solutions possible that work for all parts of the system.
“The register of teachers and its underlying rules are fundamental to Scottish education operating in the public interest and play a vital role in maintaining trust in the education system.”
The consultation concluded that further focus is needed on the following areas:
GTC Scotland’s role and context as a body that is established and governed by legislation;
Who GTC Scotland register and why;
What it means to be a ‘teacher’;
What registration categories GTC Scotland currently has and why;
What a registration category needs to reflect and inform and what it does not.
In the coming months, GTC Scotland has committed to engage and consult with stakeholders to first clarify these points ahead of further consideration of proposed changes to the Rules. Information relating to the further engagement and consultation will be provided as soon as practicable and all stakeholders who wish to participate are strongly encouraged to do so.
GTC Scotland will continue to update its current policies and frameworks underpinning the current Registration and Standards Rules 2015 to best reflect and serve the needs of the education system until such time as proposed updated Rules can take effect.
GTC Scotland has also thanked all who responded to the consultation and looks forward to the further discussion and exploration of the key issues noted.
Further information on responses to the consultation process can be found here.
Photo by Seema Miah on Unsplash
