Voice Official Response 1071: Consultation on a Scheme of Professional Update (GTCS)
Voice Official Response 1071: Consultation on a Scheme of Professional Update (GTCS)
This response is made on behalf of, and in consultation with, the Scottish Executive Committee (SEC) of Voice – the union for education professionals.
SEC determines union policy with regard to pay, conditions, and all other educational matters in Scotland.
Elements of Professional Update
All registered teachers will be included in the process of Professional Update with the process adjusted to suit the needs of different types of teachers. For example, a teacher who is working abroad, supply teachers, teachers working in other public bodies or outwith the education sector altogether.
Routine elements of Professional Update will include:
- An annual update of information by registered teachers, involving the submission to GTCS of address and personal details, as appropriate;
- Continuing engagement in PRD and in general professional development, at establishment level;
A five yearly Professional Update which would involve sharing of evidence to confirm that a teacher has maintained professional skills and understanding.
1 a) As part of Professional Update do you think that teachers should provide an annual update of information?
1 a) Yes
1 b) Do you think that the proposed five year cycle for the completion of Professional Update is appropriate?
1 b) Yes
It is reasonable to expect teachers to offer evidence of what they have done to maintain standards and keep up with the changing cultures in education. To counter this it does depend on the quantity and quality of the ‘evidence’ that will need to be collected.
Self-Evaluation
Central to Professional Update is the engagement by teachers in ongoing self-evaluation of their professional knowledge and skills and any related development needs. A benefit of this self-evaluation approach will be a consequent entitlement to support in addressing identified needs.
2 a) Is ongoing self-evaluation the right basis for Professional Update?
2 a) Yes
This right must be recognised and teachers should be allowed to have ownership of the scheme.
Current practice in self-evaluation includes personal reflection against the relevant professional standard, feedback from colleagues and on-line evaluation tools.
2 b)Are these appropriate?
2 b) Yes
Self-evaluation is the correct basis for Professional Update though specific opportunities for this should be built into the teaching year.
There should be a mechanism for monitoring the self-evaluation and measuring it against an agreed standard.
Professional Review and Development
The Professional Update working group prepared two papers on Professional Review and Development, and Coaching and Mentoring. Both papers are available from the downloads section on this page.
A constructive and helpful programme of Professional Review and Development is a key feature of Professional Update. Professional Update will provide an opportunity for teachers to make more effective use of PRD to develop their expertise and professional skills. The success of this will depend on there being a partnership of responsibilities, including recognition of the rights of the teacher and confirmation of the support available from employers.
3) Do you agree with this approach?
3 Yes
PRD has to be an integral part of the Professional Update process. The emphasis must be on the partnership approach. All parties – teachers, line managers and the local authority must commit fully otherwise this scheme will go the way of others and simply fall into abeyance.
Coaching and Mentoring
It is widely recognised that a coaching and mentoring approach is well suited to productive PRD meetings between line managers and their staff. Our paper on coaching and mentoring is available in the downloads section on this page.
4)Do you agree with this approach?
- Yes
This should be the ideal approach if there is mutual respect and collegiate trust. There is, however, the concern that the time to do this properly may be squeezed out amid the demands of a busy school.
Recording of CPD
As part of our proposals for Professional Update we envisage the development of an online system for recording CPD through the existing MyGTCS portal operated by GTCS.
5)Do you agree with this approach?
- Yes
This is on the understanding that the contents are secure and that the teacher must be asked for permission to release the information to others. Also more detail is required about who makes the entries, who checks the accuracy and how the whole system is maintained. Teachers should also retain a paper based folio as a back-up.
Practising and Non-practising Teachers
We believe that there should be separate arrangements for Professional Update for those teachers who are currently practising in classrooms, and those who are 'non-practising', for example teachers working in a public body such as Education Scotland, at local authority level, or outwith teaching entirely.
6) Do you agree that we should develop different but complementary systems of Professional Update for practising and non-practising teachers?
- No
It should be the same in principle for everyone employed in education. If the teacher takes up a position e.g. working in a public body or at local authority level, they should commit to keeping up to date with their knowledge or training. Each person should have a suitable mentor or coach with whom they can have a professional discussion about their practice.
Moving from Practising to Non-practising
It is straightforward for a teacher to move from practising to non-practising, but should GTC Scotland provide guidelines as to how an individual can move from non-practising back to practising?
7) Do you agree that GTC Scotland should provide guidelines?
7 Yes
General advice relating to curriculum advances and who to contact for more specific advice would be beneficial. Local authorities should supply more detailed advice for returners.
New registration categories
There are a number of education professionals who are teachers but not teaching in schools, for example lecturers working in initial teacher education within universities or in Further Education Colleges. These individuals are trained teachers but using their skills in a different environment. As they are registered with the GTC Scotland they will take part in Professional Update but how should they be classified?
8) Should there be new registration categories created to cover groups of teachers who are not teaching in schools?
8 Yes
Perhaps it would be appropriate for certain categories e.g. ITE lecturers and FE lecturers/instructors.
Name of Scheme
The Public Services Reform (General Teaching Council for Scotland) Order 2011 which sets out the Government's plans for the granting of independent status to GTC Scotland from April 2012 placed the GTC Scotland under a duty to introduce a scheme of 're-accreditation' for teachers.
Professional Update is the working title for this scheme. We believe that this is the most appropriate title for the initiative.
9)Is this an appropriate title for the scheme?
9 Yes
Professional Update is as good as any and does not carry the connotation of ”re-accreditation” which teachers have found unacceptable.
GTCS: Consultation on a Scheme of Professional Update
Contact:
Senior Professional Officer (Scotland) Maureen Laing
Voice: the union for education professionals
1-3 St Colme Street
Edinburgh EH3 6AA
Email: scotland@voicetheunion.org.uk
Tel: 0131 220 8241