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Opportunities to contribute
In April 2012 GTC Scotland will become the world's first independent self-regulating professional body for teaching. This statutory change represents an exciting new chapter for us and opens up opportunities to become more involved in what we do. We are now looking to fill the following vacancies for the Thirteenth Council in 2012.
Changes to Council
Some changes will take place as we plan for the introduction of a new, smaller independent Council on 2 April 2012. Changes to the membership of Council include:
- The number of teachers to be elected 19 registered teachers are to be elected to the new, independent Council
- The way teachers and headteachers are elected Integrated categories for teachers and headteachers in both primary and secondary are to be introduced, with reserved places for headteachers
- The term of office to be served by members of the new, independent Council from 2 April 2012 (ie the Thirteenth Council)
For this Council only, successful candidates will serve for a period of either two years or four years. This is to allow the introduction of a rolling programme of elections to the Council, meaning that, in future, half of the Council's members will be elected every two years
Standing for Election
We wish to encourage registered teachers and headteachers with drive and enthusiasm to stand for election.
Election will provide elected Council members with a unique opportunity to influence the direction of the new, independent Council in taking forward a fully supportive system of Professional Update for teachers; promoting teacher professionalism and accomplished teaching; and developing policy in respect of national issues such as Curriculum for Excellence, the Donaldson Review of Teacher Education, and the McCormac Review of Teacher Employment, as they impact on professional teaching standards.
We will invite teachers wishing to stand for election to indicate their preferred term of office (ie two years or four years) when completing their nomination form.
The Notice of Election and Nomination forms will be available from www.gtcs.org.uk/election
The deadline for receipt of completed nomination forms is 12 noon on Monday 26 September 2011.
Key election 2011-2012 diary dates
22 - 26 August 2011 - Election advertised; nomination papers available online or on request
26 September 2011 - Closing date for receipt of nomination papers; by this date all candidates must be in the correct election category
31 October 2011 - Closing date for electors; by this date all electors must be in the appropriate election category
21 November 2011 - Ballot papers issued (including information relating to voting online or by post)
14 December 2011 - Closing date for receipt of votes online or ballot papers by post
19 December 2011 - (or as soon as possible after this date) Publication of results
February/March 2012 - Induction (2 days) and initial meeting of the new Council Training of committees / panels (Dates for the above to be announced)
2 April 2012 - New Council takes up office
What do you need to do?
Make sure:
- you are in the correct election/voting category in order to stand for election or vote
- that your contact details are up-to-date so we can send you information on candidates and how to vote for them
- Login to MyGTCS to check your contact details and your election/voting category.
Don't worry:
- If your election/voting category and/or contact details are different to what is recorded at MyGTCS
- You can update your contact details and request a change to your election/voting category via MyGTCS
- If you don't have a MyGTCS account - sign up for one now
- Further information on the election/voting categories and how you are allocated to a category is available at www.gtcs.org.uk/election
Compensation payment
- Council, Panel and Appeals Board members will be eligible to claim compensation payment of £75 for each half-day (up to 3.5 hours) for attendance at agreed Council, committee or panel meetings or training events. (This rate is currently under review.)
- Members will be refunded all reasonable expenses incurred in connection with GTC Scotland business.
Apply to serve as a Panel or Appeals Board member
Changes to our Adjudication Panels and Appeals Board
Some other changes will take place as we plan for the introduction of a new, smaller independent Council on 2 April 2012. These include some changes to the constitution and membership of:
- Our Adjudicating Panels
- Our Appeals Board
in general there will be only one Council member on each hearing panel; all other panel members (both registered teachers and lay members) will be appointed following an open recruitment campaign.
no members of Council will serve on the Appeals Board. This will become an Independent Board consisting entirely of (non-Council) registered teachers and lay members also to be appointed following an open recruitment campaign.
Appointment of Adjudication Panel and Appeals Board Members
Our independent Appointments Committee is responsible for the recruitment and selection of 7 Lay Council members, and a pool of around 50 appointed Adjudicating Panel members and 7 Appeals Board members made up of registered teachers and lay members for the new, independent Council.
We are now seeking applications from registered teachers to serve on our
Adjudicating Panels and Appeals Board from 2 April 2012 for a period of four years.
We wish to encourage registered teachers and headteachers with a keen interest in making a contribution to ensuring the maintenance of high standards in teaching and learning, and the protection of children and young people, to apply. Appointment as a member of the Adjudicating Panels or Appeals Board will give a unique opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the work of the new, independent Council in this area. This
will also provide an opportunity to gain a wider understanding of the work which we do and to enhance your own professional development.
If you would like to play a part in shaping the teaching profession in Scotland and to bring your ideas, expertise and talent to our work as a professional body as we go forward, we encourage you to apply.
Key appointment process dates
22 August 2011 - Appointed vacancies advertised; application packs available online
or on request
30 September 2011 (Friday) - Closing date for receipt of completed applications
From November to December 2011 - Interviews to be held in Edinburgh
Shortly after the final interview date - Offers of appointment to be issued to successful candidates
Mid-January 2012 - Written confirmation of acceptance of appointment required
March 2012 - Training of Adjudicating Panels and Appeals Board (2 days - dates to be
announced)
2 April 2012 - Adjudicating Panels and Appeals Board take up office
More Information on how to apply for a Panel or Appeals Board position and what this involves is available on the Council's website at www.gtcs.org.uk/appointments Application packs will be available from 22 August.
The deadline for receipt of completed applications is Friday 30 September 2011