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Creating and Maintaining the Effectiveness of Teachers in Scotland

This seminar was presented by TEAN, the Teacher Education Advancement Network, working in partnership with the General Teaching Council of Scotland. The event was supported by the Higher Education Academy

TEAN was delighted to accept an invitation to the General Teaching Council for Scotland headquarters in Edinburgh on 19 June 2012 to bring together colleagues from across teacher education in Scotland to consider Creating and Maintaining the Effectiveness of Teachers in Scotland. TEAN is grateful to the Higher Education Academy for supporting the event.

The Donaldson Report (2011) hailed the GTCS as ‘pivotal in supporting and assuring teacher quality’ and this event concentrated on two recommendations from the report: that the Professional Standards be revised ‘to create a coherent overarching framework (35); and that ‘a new “Standard for active registration” should be developed’ (36). These two issues have significant impact on teacher education programmes and, in fact, all teacher education in Scotland. Delegates took full advantage of the opportunity to discuss the big issues.

Tom Hamilton, Director of Education and Professional Learning at the General Teaching Council for Scotland gave the opening keynote of the seminar, addressing delegates on what Donaldson refers to as ‘a key lever for improvement’: The Revision of the Professional Standards. Tom assured delegates that values matter and was keen to answer questions and listen to ideas and suggestions from delegates throughout the day. During group sessions, delegates considered how the new Standards will impact on teacher education and worked on solutions and suggestions of how to respond.

Tom’s PowerPoint presentation can be accessed here.

To start the afternoon session, Gillian Hamilton, Head of Educational Services at the General Teaching Council for Scotland gave a presentation on The Scottish Professional Update Process. Gillian discussed why this was being implemented and the opportunities it will give. She too was eager to listen and gather feedback. After Gillian’s presentation, delegate groups discussed how the University Review Process can link with Professional Update Process and gave suggestions for ways forward.

Gillian’s Prezi presentation can be accessed here.

There were 5 groups at the event who worked very hard on the questions posed by the presentations. They fed back on the day in a short plenary and here you can access this rich harvest of debate, questions and suggestions. If you would like to add to the debate yourself, please contact TEAN.

Group Debates

Biographies of keynote speakers

Tom Hamilton is Director of Education and Professional Learning at GTC Scotland. Qualified in both Primary and Secondary, Tom’s last post in a school was as Principal Teacher in English at Doon Academy, Dalmellington.

He then spent a number of years in teacher education and was Associate Dean of the University of Paisley’s School of Education before joining the Council in October 2004 as Professional Officer Professional Standards.

His current post involves him in developing, promoting and implementing the Council’s educational policies.

Gillian Hamilton joined GTC Scotland as Head of Educational Services. Prior to that, she was a Quality Improvement Officer in East Ayrshire Council, where her responsibilities included leadership development and CPD. A primary teacher to trade, she was head teacher of Nether Robertland Primary School in Stewarton from 2000- 2004.

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