New Council lays foundations

Issue 33

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Teaching Scotland journalist

The Twelfth Council is now fully operational. Its responsibility for raising and maintaining the standards of the teaching profession is coupled with the need to prepare GTC Scotland for potential independence.

Photo of bricksThe election of the Twelfth Council culminated in the induction process, which took place at the end of 2009. As part of this process, office bearers were appointed, including the Convener and Vice Convener of the Council and chairs for its various committees.

Irene Hunter, Director of Corporate and Legal Governance for GTC Scotland, said: "This Council will continue to play a pivotal role in the maintenance and improvement of teaching standards in Scotland.

"The committees' work will go a long way to shaping future regulation of the profession. This is particularly crucial given the implementation of A Curriculum for Excellence, and the ongoing financial pressures that are likely to be facing local authorities in the coming years."

David Drever, Convener of the Twelfth Council, added: "GTC Scotland has a central role in articulating and enhancing standards, and in doing so it protects teachers' professionalism - individually and collectively. I'm looking forward to playing a part in that process."

Independence

Photo of the 12th Council of the GTCS

This Council will have the additional responsibility of preparing GTC Scotland for potential independence. This change of status could lead to a fundamental review of the structure of future Councils, and even the function of GTC Scotland itself.

Anthony Finn, CEO of GTC Scotland, said: "We cannot underestimate the importance of the role this Council will play preparing our organisation for the future.

"GTC Scotland has a reputation of setting a professional benchmark for teaching in Scotland, and our work has influenced standards across the world. Any change of status needs to be used as an opportunity to further improve this reputation.

"This Council will lay the foundations on which a strong, independent GTC Scotland will be built."

Linda Fisher-Dougan, Chair of the Professional Conduct Committee, said: "As independence approaches we need to ensure teacher professionalism, especially in relation to matters of conduct and competence, is directed and promoted by the Professional Conduct Committee to serve the needs of teachers and the wider needs of society.

"I think teachers will be happy to know that a classroom teacher who understands the stresses of working in schools today will chair the PCC."

Professional regulation

Meanwhile, Ephraim Borowski, Convener of the Investigating Sub-Committee and the first lay person from a non-teaching background to be elected to chair a GTC Scotland committee, stressed the importance of the Sub-Committee's role: "Professional regulation always requires a fine balance between the interests of the profession and those of the public. The Investigating Sub-Committee has to ensure that teachers are not subjected to trivial or malicious complaints, while serious matters are seen to be properly investigated.

"The challenge is to demonstrate fairness and transparency as well as proportionality."

Related websites

www.gtcs.org.uk/council

 

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