This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scotland's first chartered teachers
08/11/2004
Thirty-seven teachers from across Scotland have made
history by becoming the country's first chartered
teachers.
Their new status recognises their experience, excellent
teaching skills and high level of professionalism. It also
rewards experienced teachers who choose to stay in the
classroom rather than moving to promoted posts.
The chartered teacher programme is designed to:
· Maximise skills and expertise within the
profession
· Reward experienced teachers who want
challenging careers whilst continuing to teach
· Give teachers greater job satisfaction,
professional recognition and better pay.
Education Minister Peter Peacock said:
"Teachers are crucial to young people's education and
that's why I want to do everything I can to promote
excellence within the profession. We must create a modern
education system which has a valued teaching profession at
its heart.
"Chartered teacher status allows teachers to be the best
they can be and with great teachers we can achieve great
things. This is another achievement for Scotland's devolved
government, helping to raise standards in schools and
ensure we have a motivated, better rewarded and
enthusiastic teaching profession.
"More than 6,500 teachers have already registered an
interest in the programme and I hope even more will follow
so that children across the country can benefit from their
knowledge and expertise. Continued investment in the
profession will allow us to drive forward the comprehensive
package of school reforms unveiled last week."
Matthew MacIver, Chief Executive of the General Teaching
Council Scotland, said:
"The success of the initiative demonstrates that
teachers are already working at, and maintaining, high
standards in the classroom.
"The chartered teacher programme is not only about the
qualifications you've gained, it is about what you do as a
teacher. It is about teachers developing their own learning
throughout their careers but doing so while still working
on the shop floor.
"We firmly believe that by gaining this professional
recognition teachers have proved that they are experienced,
qualified and already doing an excellent job of teaching
our young people.
"The people taking part in the chartered teacher
initiative accurately reflect the profile of the teaching
profession as it currently stands.
"I'm pleased and privileged to be welcoming our very
first chartered teachers in Scotland to the GTC Scotland
offices today and wish them every success in their future
teaching in the classroom."
Angus Morrison, an English teacher from Nairn Academy,
has been a teacher for 13 years and is now one of the first
in the country to receive chartered teacher status. He
said:
"There was a lot of work involved in undertaking
chartered teacher but in the end it was well worth it and I
have already started recommending it to colleagues as
something they should look at.
"I am delighted to have got the award and of course the
other positive thing about the programme is that it gives
teachers a reward in salary while allowing them to remain
in the classroom."
Annie McSeveney, from Braidwood Primary in the Borders,
has been a teacher for 29 years. She said:
"I'm delighted to have become a chartered teacher,
because I feel that the award represents an important step
forward for classroom teachers. It provides recognition for
informed and reflective classroom practice. I would love to
see a lot more teachers taking up the opportunity to work
for chartered teacher status."
The chartered teacher programme is open to all teachers
at the top of the main grade who have maintained a
Continuing Professional Development portfolio. There is no
cap on the number of teachers who can embark on the
programme.
Chartered teachers receive a £6,500 increase to their
annual salary.
Chartered teacher status was introduced as part of the
'A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century' agreement
between teacher groups, CoSLA and Scottish Executive
Ministers following the publication of the McCrone report
in May 2000.
Approximately 6,500 teachers have already registered
their interest in undertaking the chartered teacher
programme.
For further information on the chartered teacher
programme and what it involves please visit
www.gtcs.org.uk and
click on Continuing Professional Development.