An independent review of the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s Fitness to Teach process is set to be undertaken by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA).
The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) registers all teachers in Scotland and works to set, uphold and promote high standards for the teaching profession. When there are serious concerns about a teacher’s conduct or professional competence, the GTCS investigates this through its Fitness to Teach process.
The PSA is expecting to report its findings to GTCS by the end of 2024, which will then be considered by GTCS’s Council as part of a wider project to review its Fitness to Teach rules.
In its role overseeing the work of 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and care professionals, the PSA sets standards for regulators and carries out performance reviews each year to assess how well they meet them. The PSA can also be commissioned to conduct special reviews of other regulators in the UK and abroad or to provide expertise and advice when it is needed.
The Professional Standards Authority’s work will involve reviewing the GTCS’s performance against the PSA’s Standards of Good Regulation, adapted to the GTCS’s working context. The review will look at the effectiveness of GTCS’s Fitness to Teach process, the legislation supporting the Fitness to Teach process and the efficiency of the process. As part of the evaluation, the PSA will be seeking views from GTCS stakeholders.
Alan Clamp, Chief Executive of the PSA said,
"We are delighted to be working with the General Teaching Council for Scotland to undertake this review. It will provide a valuable opportunity to share learning and insights across our sectors while focusing on core regulatory principles and good practice."
Jennifer Macdonald, Strategic Director at the GTCS said,
"The Fitness to Teach process was first introduced in 2012 when we gained independence as an organisation, and our current Fitness to Teach Rules were enacted in 2017. We believe that commissioning the PSA and working with them as experts in the regulatory field will provide us with valuable insight on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Fitness to Teach process. We will use this best practice insight to inform a review of our Rules and ensure that we continuously improve our processes in the interests of trusted teaching."
ENDS
Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care
Contact: media@professionalstandards.org.uk
Notes to the Editor- The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care oversees 10 statutory bodies that regulate health and social care professionals in the UK.
- We assess their performance and report to Parliament. We also conduct audits and investigations and can appeal fitness to practise cases to the courts if we consider that sanctions are insufficient to protect the public and it is in the public interest.
- We also set standards for organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care occupations and accredit those that meet them.
- We share good practice and knowledge, conduct research and introduce new ideas to our sector. We monitor policy developments in the UK and internationally and provide advice on issues relating to professional standards in health and social care.
- We do this to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of users of health and social care services and the public. We are an independent body, accountable to the UK Parliament.
- Our values are – integrity, transparency, respect, fairness and teamwork – and we strive to ensure that they are at the core of our work.
- More information about our work and the approach we take is available at www.professionalstandards.org.uk