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Election 2009: the shape of things to come
Teaching Scotland journalist
Representing the Council
To help you decide if you should stand for election, we gathered a selection of individuals around a table to discuss their experience, observations and understanding of the Council. Those involved were:
Tony Finn: Chief Executive of GTCS, formerly elected Council member
Kay Barnett: Secondary School Teacher in Aberdeenshire, first elected in 1999, convener of the Professional Standards Committee
Tom Kirk: Lay member representing the Association of Directors of Social Work since 2004, vice convener of the Professional Standards Committee
May Ferries: Primary deputy head in Glasgow, served for five terms in total, Council convener and convener of Exceptional Admissions to the Register Committee
Why do you think the Council is important to the wider teaching profession?
Tony: It's responsible for regulating the profession throughout a teacher's career. But it also contributes substantially to developments in education. Over the last few years, it has added responsibility for areas such as chartered teacher, standards for headship as well as refining and redeveloping the standard for initial teacher education and the standard for full registration. Beyond that it's involved in every decision about professionalism in Scotland.
Kay: It's an organisation that helps your professional development and making the links between what you're doing as a teacher and how you want to enhance your own professionalism.
Tom: As a lay person looking at the way the Council is structured ... you can see the way it impacts on the quality of teachers - I see a significant increase in the quality of teachers.
How do you think people who serve on the Council benefit?
May: I think that's a great strength; just today we were having a discussion and I heard myself saying 'I never thought about that'. It's that mix of different people coming to things with their different perspectives but with the view to reach a consensus.
Kay: I come here and can talk with so many different people that otherwise I wouldn't have been able to. I share my perspective and they influence my way of thinking.
Tom: One of the features is teamwork; when I started people were very patient with me. People feel very supported from the very start; I have always felt very comfortable. Another thing that the Council gives you is very good training. We have had a lot of good sessions on discipline, for example. You also get to mix with a wide variety of clever and humorous people, it's fantastic.
What are the time commitments required for the work for the Council. What kind of things are you doing during this time?
May: There's a lot of preparation to be done because a lot of the committee work involves papers to be read. But it's often stimulating because it's about something you're interested in.
What are the challenges and opportunities for the next Council?
Tony: One of the big tasks is to set expectations for the independent Council which will follow. A lot of time is going to be spent on some really important issues for the future governance of teaching. It's rare for you to get an opportunity as a teacher to contribute to something that's going to have such a substantial and long-lasting implication.
May: The attraction of having the rolling programme of elections is that you can hang onto some of your people who do a supportive role, but I'd like to see a new generation of teachers more effectively engaged with the work of the Council. It would be nice for the next Council to make them a priority; it's not something we have talked about in any detail. It would be interesting if the new generation sees themselves standing for the new Council - that I think would be very welcome.
Tom: It's almost a dual thing of keeping the work going but also helping plan for the future.
Kay: I'm particularly interested in the ongoing development of the Council as a supporter organisation that's linked to teacher ongoing development and professionalism. Also, I'm interested in how we develop the quality of the educational experience to the learners, with the Council continuing to develop strategies and other ways to support teachers to link their classroom practice with their ongoing development, so when you become a teacher things don't begin to stagnate. There's always the impetus to professionally refresh your practice.
What would you say are the characteristics someone needs to be successful on the Council?
May: You need to be interested as a teacher about that whole idea how you learn to be a teacher, how you support students and how you support probationers, and how you can improve this process. You need to want to engage and to make a valuable contribution.
Kay: You really have to care about the state of Scottish education - a genuine interest and commitment to the wider educational community. What happens in your classroom is really important, but unless you are committed to wanting to learn more about, and wanting to shape, what's going on around you then I think maybe the Council isn't for you. You have to be resilient as well because things are challenging; you are often dealing with someone's life and ability to earn a living and you have to be able to cope with that. It can be a bit of a shock when you leave the building and reflect on the decisions you've made.
Tom: You have to be open minded, compassionate and have the ability to make difficult decisions. You need to have the ability to make a decision that you know isn't just about the person in front of you, but about the whole sweep of professionalism that the GTCS acts as the custodian for.
Tony: There are two elements here. There's the representation of the teaching profession, that's very important. And also sometimes you can get into difficult issues, particularly around accreditation, where you have to be consistent and fair. There's always an element of the Council reputation of being seen as a fair, but credible, professional regulator. Members therefore have to take decisions which are within guidelines but which take account of the circumstances they face, some of which can be quite complicated. If they didn't do this, the credibility of the Council might be at risk.
If you could pass any advice to someone considering standing for membership what would it be?
Tom: It is very rewarding and stimulating, but hard work, so make sure you are prepared for it! Gather as much information as you can before you decide because it is important that people make an informed decision.
May: It's incredibly valuable and gives such an insight into the wider world of Scottish education. As long as you're enthusiastic about teaching and prepared to make the commitment then you should stand.
Kay: Go for it because you can make a difference!
Tony: I think it's a hugely important and incredibly enjoyable job and the people who come here will learn so much that they will be able to take it back into their jobs.
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37% OF VOTERS SAY
they do feel that fostering a sense of global citizenship in the classroom can have a long-term, positive effect on the wider world?
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would like to knowthe GTCS view on this scenario. I agree with Steve its a last option!
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