Consultation on the draft Registration of Independent Schools (Prescribed Person) (Scotland) Regulations 2017

2. Introduction

There is currently no requirement for teachers in independent schools to be GTCS registered although voluntary registration has been encouraged by both the GTCS and the Scottish Council of Independent Schools.

A priority of the Scottish Government is to improve the life chances and education of all children in Scotland. High quality teaching and strong leadership are key features of a successful education system.

By introducing a requirement for all teachers working in independent schools to be GTCS registered this will bring them into line with local authority schools and is a means of improving the standard of teaching across the whole of the education sector.

It will offer assurance to parents that irrespective of where their children are educated the standards and quality of teaching staff is regulated by the GTCS. The requirement will provide schools with assurances of the standard and quality of the teachers they are employing. It will also benefit teachers through Professional Update, the aim of which is to support, maintain and enhance teachers' continued professionalism through professional learning.