ACTS gives response to McCormac

The Association of Chartered Teachers Scotland (ACTS) has published its response to recommendations 19 and 20 of Advancing Professionalism in Teaching (the 'McCormac Report').

Praising the impact of the recent Chartered Teachers Futures campaign, led by ACTS, Chair David Noble said: "ACTS members and others with a commitment to Chartered Teacher have worked hard on two fronts: campaigning against the idea that the scheme be discontinued, and discussing a positive future for the work of chartered teachers and the scheme."

Mr Noble also welcomed the recent paper by Professor Brian Hudson, 'Chartered Teachers Matter: Envisioning their Future as Leaders of Learning', in which Professor Hudson argues that the Standard for Chartered Teacher and the SNCT Code of Practice on the Role of the Chartered Teacher provide "a very clear role definition" and that CT policy should continue to be developed by stakeholders within an established ethos of "mutual respect, understanding (and) shared responsibility".

In the conclusion of its response to the McCormac Report, ACTS argue:

  • for the creation of a centralised web-based archive of research projects and publications carried out by chartered teachers during and after their Chartered Teacher studies
  • there should be clear guidelines on the role of chartered teachers which are understood by all stakeholders in Scottish education
  • in accepting a leadership responsibility, chartered teachers should be 'leaders of learning' within an ethos of distributive leadership
  • stakeholders should accept the diversity of professional expertise contributed by chartered teachers across a range of professional actions
  • Professional Review and Development (PRD) processes for chartered teachers should record planned and agreed contributions for the year ahead. Managers who lead PRD need to be fully conversant with the Standard for Chartered Teacher and the Code of Practice on the Role of the Chartered Teacher
  • clear, progressive, educational pathways should be developed for 'leaders of learning', to build the professional capacity of staff
  • the format and content of Chartered Teacher modules should be reviewed to ensure they remain relevant.

ACTS’ full response to the McCormac Report and Professor Hudson’s paper can be read at http://acts.edublogs.org. Further information on ACTS can be obtained from actscotland@yahoo.com.

issue 43
January 2012