Matthew MacIver steps down leaving GTCS a modern, forward-thinking organisation

After almost a decade at the head of GTCS, CEO Matthew MacIver leaves an organisation in a very different place from where he joined it, thanks to his efforts to create opportunity and exact influence.

Matthew MacIver once persuaded Jock Stein to give him a free ticket to a European match between Hibernian and Real Madrid.

The 18 year old had left his home on the Isle of Lewis to take up a place at Edinburgh University where he would eventually graduate with a History degree. It was his first time on the mainland.

Matthew turned up at Easter Road thinking nothing of walking into the stadium, knocking on a door marked "Manager', and explaining to the man behind the desk that he had never been to a football match before and fancied attending the midweek spectacular. He has been persuading powerful people ever since.

Knocking on doors and getting results comes naturally to the 62 year old who retired from GTCS in September. He has been at the helm of the regulatory body for seven years and an employee for 10 years. So what has changed most since he first walked up the leafy avenue to Clerwood House?

"The process of devolution had just started when I took up my post. We were aware that it would bring change and it did; greater accountability and greater involvement with the political process.

"This impacted hugely on GTCS. We are more involved in the general education world now. We are no longer just a bureaucracy but an organisation fundamental to Scotland's educational health.

"I made a deliberate attempt to take GTCS into the education debate. Our business is teachers and teaching and the quality of those teachers. The safety and wellbeing of the pupils they teach is absolutely central to Scotland's success."

This change in the way GTCS saw itself in turn changed the way others saw it. High profile educationalists from abroad are a regular sight at GTCS HQ.

"GTCS was the only regulatory body for teachers in the UK until 1998. My predecessor, Ivor Sutherland, built a huge reputation for developing international links and I developed that policy. I also built ties with the new GTCS in the rest of the UK by setting up the GTC "Five Nations "which meets twice a year to discuss regulation issues. But possibly my proudest achievement in this regard was organising and hosting the first International Conference of Teaching Councils, which took place in June 2005 in Edinburgh.

"We welcome visitors from across the globe including Yemen, Australia, USA and Sweden. In fact, a major issue in the recent general election in Sweden was the creation of a teaching council. Some quite high profile politicians visited us to find out how we work."

One thing Matthew is certain of, as he reflects on his time at GTCS, is that the reputation of Scottish education remains high.

"As a nation we have always taken education seriously. It is part of our heritage and history. In the 18th century Scotland and Prussia were seen as the best countries in the world for education. That pride in our education system remains; we have always wanted to succeed.

"But I think, most significantly, there has always been support for education in Scotland from governments of all political colours and they have made public money available for interesting and significant developments. The Induction Scheme and Chartered Teacher are good examples of that philosophy and you don't find it in many other countries.

"The visitors from abroad to Clerwood House are intrigued that the GTCS is trusted by government to regulate something as important as the teaching profession. We are very much seen as the international leader in self regulation and the fact that our First Minister recently announced independent status for GTCS will make us the first truly independent teaching council in the world. That says a lot about our success but also the strength of Scottish education." 

The growth and development of GTCS has been significant in the seven years Matthew MacIver has been Chief Executive and Registrar. In simple terms its workforce has grown from 18 to 57 people. But the organisation has also had to adapt to the changing education and political environment.

"We have created permanent posts for some very talented people. Some have accused me of "empire building "but the growth of this organisation reflects the fact that we are now a substantial player in education.

"I have a lot to thank my staff for. They all work extremely hard and have adapted well to great and rapid change. Day in, day out they deal with difficult questions, entry qualifications and legal issues. They have a wonderful grasp of detail. I really hope that together we have changed the image of GTCS so that we are no longer seen as a bureaucracy but a modern, forward thinking organisation.

"I have also enjoyed working with the various GTC Councils that have been elected during my time here.

In particular I really enjoyed working with our longest serving Convenor, Norma-Anne Watson who worked, and still does work, tirelessly for education. That is something common to all those involved with the GTCS - we are all deeply passionate about education."

Before joining GTCS, Matthew was Rector of Scotland's oldest school, the Royal High School in Edinburgh. Before that he was the Rector of Fortrose Academy in the Black Isle. His teaching career also included probation years at Kilmarnock Academy and the Depute post at Balerno High School in Edinburgh. He makes no secret of the fact that his most contented time was as Principal teacher of History at Craigmount High School in Edinburgh. Even now his subject is close to his heart.

 Matthew was educated at the Nicholson Institute in Stornoway. A native Gaelic speaker, he was an inaugural member of the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee in 1991 and chaired the Committee from 1996 to 2001.

In 2003 he was appointed to Ofcom as the Member for Scotland on Ofcom's Content Board. Ofcom is the broadcasting regulator for the United Kingdom. He stepped down from this position in June 2006 when he was appointed as Chair of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the body which promotes the Gaelic language and culture in Scotland.

He has since moved on to take up an honorary professorship with the University of the Highlands and Islands, focusing on Gaelic education. How have his Gaelic speaking roots influenced his career?

"Throughout my career I did not want to be seen as the 'Gaelic man'. But, coming from a minority and particular geographic area, it has given me a different perspective. I am proud that at the GTCS we have helped develop courses that ensure people do not have to leave isolated parts of Scotland to become teachers. We have to keep working at moving away from the central belt philosophy.

"I am also very proud of the fact that we have removed the medical hurdles that used to exist for people entering the profession. These hurdles stopped many people with disabilities becoming a teacher which was wrong. We have also recently dealt with the issue of asylum seekers and refugees applying to become teachers. I think that my background and upbringing helped me understand some of the views of minorities better and I believe very strongly that society has a responsibility to respect and encourage minorities."

The Country and Western fan whose dream is to visit the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, believes the future is rosy for Scottish education and the GTCS with some caveats.

"The Induction Scheme is one of the great success stories. I think we are now producing some of the best qualified teachers ever. But the flip side is the current problems with placing Probationer teachers in jobs. This is a significant issue and we can't allow this national resource to be lost. If we want a successful Scotland we need a professional workforce fully integrated into schools and we must find a way to do this."

When the Clerwood House door closes behind Matthew MacIver for the last time it will echo that famous visit to the manager's office at Easter Road . . . he will walk away leaving a big impression, with many more doors to be knocked.

All of the Council and staff at the GTCS would like to pass on their gratitude to Matthew for his leadership and wish him a happy future.