General Teaching Council for Scotland
Encyclopedia
The General Teaching Council for Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Comhairle Choitcheann Teagaisg na h-Alba) is a Scottish
public body
. It is the profession
al regulatory
body for teacher
s in Scotland.
It was the first professional registration body for teachers in the United Kingdom, and one of the first teaching councils in the world.
It has three areas of responsibility:
It was set up in 1965 under the Teaching Council (Scotland) Act 1965 following concerns that entry requirements had lowered after the Second World War and unqualified teachers were working in Scottish schools http://www.gtcs.org.uk/web/site/About_GTCS/About_GTCS.asp. Its powers, remits and duties have been amended by the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998
and the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Act 2000
Its powers are soon to be extended to include removal from the register on the grounds of competence.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
public body
Scottish public bodies
Public bodies of the Scottish Government are organisations that are funded by the Scottish Government. It includes executive and advisory non-departmental public bodies ; tribunals; and nationalised industries....
. It is the profession
Profession
A profession is a vocation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply disinterested counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain....
al regulatory
Regulation
Regulation is administrative legislation that constitutes or constrains rights and allocates responsibilities. It can be distinguished from primary legislation on the one hand and judge-made law on the other...
body for teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s in Scotland.
It was the first professional registration body for teachers in the United Kingdom, and one of the first teaching councils in the world.
It has three areas of responsibility:
- to maintain and enhance professional standards of Scotland's teachers
- to support new teachers through the Standard for Full Registration
- to work with partner organisations across the world
It was set up in 1965 under the Teaching Council (Scotland) Act 1965 following concerns that entry requirements had lowered after the Second World War and unqualified teachers were working in Scottish schools http://www.gtcs.org.uk/web/site/About_GTCS/About_GTCS.asp. Its powers, remits and duties have been amended by the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998
Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998
The Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 was enacted by the United Kingdom Parliament on 16 July 1998, in order to improve the standards of teaching in the UK through the establishment of statutory General Teaching Councils for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the modification the remit...
and the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Act 2000
Functions
- to maintain The Register of teachers who are eligible to teach in public sector schools in Scotland
- to review the standards of education, training and fitness of people entering the profession in Scotland and make recommendations to Ministers
- to oversee the probationary period for teachers
- to keep informed of the education and professional preparation of teachers in the higher education institutions and review and accredit teacher education programmes
- to accredit all Chartered Teacher Programmes and modules and award The Standard for Chartered Teacher
- to accredit all programmes and modules leading to the award of the Standard for Headship
- to make recommendations to ministers on Continuing Professional Development and staff development review of teachers
- to determine whether Registration is to be refused or withdrawn on the grounds of professional Conduct
Its powers are soon to be extended to include removal from the register on the grounds of competence.