The General Teaching Council for Scotland Autumn Briefing

The General Teaching Council for Scotland Autumn Briefing: Registering as a Teacher John Adams (Senior Manager, Student Support) Student Support Team studentadmin@gtcs. org. uk 0131 314 6000

What does GTC Scotland do? § accredits all teaching programmes and some professional learning programmes § regulates the profession by controlling access to the Register and removal from it using standards for competence and codes of conduct § promotes professionalism through the suite of professional standards, codes of conduct, professional recognition awards, and Professional Update

Where does GTC Scotland fit in? Education Scotland other national bodies Scottish Government GTCS Local Authorities Universities

What will be covered today? • • Applying for Registration Criminal Records Checks Teacher Induction Scheme Flexible Route Timescale over the next year Communication over the next year Using your My. GTCS account

How do I apply for registration? • You must apply – it’s a legal requirement • You apply online: • Available from November • Choose 5 local authority preferences or choose Preference Waiver (go anywhere) • Dual Qualified • Online declaration • Disabilities monitoring • Direct Debit Mandate

How do criminal record checks work? • You must have membership of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme through Disclosure Scotland: – Full or Short (Existing) scheme check – likely to be existing scheme member due to placements – 3 forms of ID needed – photocopies only – Cost – payment method via data capture sheet, include with ID on return – Scheme Membership Statement – cannot be used for registration – What happens if I declare a criminal record?

What routes are there to becoming a fully registered teacher? Two routes for probationer teachers: 1. Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) 2. Flexible Route (FR)

What are the key features of the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS)? Eligible if completing a TQ at a Scottish University and UK or EU citizen Funded by Scottish Government Guaranteed employment by a local authority Takes 190 days (1 continuous school year) Only available on a full-time basis Reduced class contact time c. 80% to allow for extra professional learning (about 18 hours a week) • Support at school and LA levels • Time limit 3 years • Must meet The Standard for Full Registration • • • “Scotland’s approach to Teacher Induction is World Class” (OECD Report)

What’s the Flexible Route? • • Can be employed by local authority or independent schools Can choose own local authority Can work part-time Can consider teaching outside of Scotland (but we don’t want you to do that!) BUT. . . • • • It takes 270 days (about a year and a half) You must find your own post No guaranteed work or support Time limit 5 years Must still meet The Standard for Full Registration

What choices do I have? First, you need to decide whether to: • Proceed through the TIS* (if eligible) OR • Proceed through the FR (*TIS is strongly recommended if you are eligible)

What choices do I have? Second, if you choose the TIS, you need to decide whether to: • Choose 5 Councils in order of preference OR • Choose the Preference Waiver Option (willing to go anywhere) • Dual Qualifications

What happens if I choose the TIS? If you decide to make 5 preferred choices: 1. Think carefully about your circumstances 2. Think carefully about location: there’s a map on the online application form and links to some Council information on the In 2 Teaching website 3. Remember you could be allocated your 5 th choice

What happens if I choose the TIS? If you decide to opt for the Preference Waiver Payment: • You can be allocated to a vacancy anywhere in Scotland • You are given financial assistance of £ 6, 000 in Primary and £ 8, 000 in Secondary (due to difficulties in placing in Secondary) payable in 3 instalments (August, January and April during your TIS year)

What happens if I choose the TIS? No matter whether you choose 5 preferences or the Preference Waiver: Gaelic Medium Students – should indicate this on the application; placed separately as not all Councils have Gaelic provision Denominational – approval may be needed by the Catholic Church (see SCES website) and certificate in Catholic RE may be preferred; vacancies not guaranteed Allocation process – tries to match Council vacancies with your preferences Disabilities – advised to disclose in order to be supported and placed appropriately, but it’s a personal choice Deferrals – only eligible to apply in exceptional circumstances beyond your control; contact us if you are told that you will not complete by the summer Withdrawing – must inform us straight away if you leave your course

Dual Qualified • Will you qualify in one of the following? – Sciences – any 2 from Biology, Chemistry, Physics – Social subjects and RME – any 2 from Geography, History, Modern Studies, RME – MFL – any 2 from French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Spanish – Computing with Business Education ot Mathematics – Drama with Music or English – Physics with mathematics

Dual Qualification • If yes you have the option to opt to complete your probationary period in both subjects • This is voluntary

What happens if I choose the TIS? • You should make your choices and complete the application process by Christmas • You can make changes until Friday 17 February (either switching from 5 preferences to PWP or vice versa, or changing the Councils and their order or from Dual Qualified to single) • Changes are made online via My. GTCS • You will receive a confirmation email when changes are made and they will show on your My. GTCS page

What are the timescales this year? • Nov – Dec: – Students apply for registration and PVG scheme – GTCS start processing criminal record checks (approximately 3, 000) • 19 Feb: No further changes to preferences • End of May: Students informed of allocated local authority (email & My. GTCS) • July: Registration completed

Communication between the GTCS and you • Change of details – make any changes on My. GTCS straight away • Withdrawing or leaving the course – let us know straight away by phone and email • Make preference changes via My. GTCS by 17 February • Email bulletins – watch out for these from us • Text Message – watch out for these from us • www. in 2 teaching. org. uk - check our website from time to time • studentadmin@gtcs. org. uk use this email address if you need to contact us

What can I do through the My. GTCS account? Your My. GTCS account will be set up when you apply and you can: • View and change your TIS preferences • View allocation information with local authority contact information • Complete your ITE Profile next spring • Access your TIS profile during your probation • Update contact details any time • View registration details (once registered) • View qualifications (once registered) • Access the My. Community forum • Access a new research area: over 1, 700 education journals via our free EBSCO service

How do I get more information? • Teaching Scotland magazine • Teaching Scotland Online • Twitter #gtcs and @GTCS_Norrie • www. in 2 teaching. org. uk • www. gtcs. org. uk