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General Teaching Council for Scotland
07/10/2009
Keith Brown, Minister for Schools and Skills, today announced the reappointment of four members to the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). The term of a fifth member is being extended.
Cathy Macaslan is currently Vice Principal at Aberdeen University and has a long standing involvement with education. At the University she had a wide ranging involvement in development and committee work and was heavily involved in the University's Curriculum Reform. Externally she has been involved in the Quality Assurance Agency's Committee on Quality Enhancement. Over the last four years Cathy has worked on the GTCS Professional Standards Committee and Professional Standards Panel.
Eileen Prior is a parent with a background in Additional Support Needs while also bringing significant experience in industry as a PR consultant. She is a member of various committees, including the Children and Young People's working group on Down Syndrome Scotland and previously chaired the Equity Group, with which she remains closely involved. Eileen has been a member of the GTCS Education and Professional Standards Committee.
Ian Jackson has been a ministerial nominee on the General Teaching Council Scotland for four years and serves on the Professional Conduct Committee and on the Committee on Exceptional Admissions to the Register. After over twenty seven years with BT, Ian joined the General Dental Council (GDC) as its first Director for Scotland on January 5 this year. Ian's role is to manage the GDC's activities in Scotland, working with the Scottish Parliament, members of the public and the dental profession. Ian has also been a lay member of HM Inspectorate of Education since 1996.
Brian Paterson is a former Managing Director with extensive experience in industry both in the UK and overseas. He is also a member of the standards and compliance board of the Institute of Chartered Accountants for Scotland and is a Board Member of a number of charities. Since joining the GTCS Brian has been a member of the Investigating Sub-Committee.
Ephraim Borowski was first appointed to the GTCS in 2001 and has been Vice-convener of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and Convener of the Investigation Sub-Committee. Before he retired in 2000, he was Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Philosophy at Glasgow University and later was Senior Examiner and consultant Development Officer at the Scottish Qualifications Authority. His other education experience includes: President of the Glasgow Association of University Teachers and elected membership of both the University Court and Senate; the Academic Board and Scottish Committee of the Open University; membership of Hutchesons' Education Trust and a local authority School Board; and Acting Chair of the Scottish Education Forum. He is the Director of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities and has been President of the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow. As Ephraim has already served two terms as a member of Council, his term has been extended for 18 months.
The re-appointments will last for approximately 2 years from November 2009 until November 2011. The extension is for 18 months from November 2009 until April 2011.
The posts are part time and unpaid, although members travel and expenses are covered. It is expected that time commitment will be approximately 20 to 22 days per year. None of the appointees hold other public appointments.
The General Teaching Council for Scotland is an Advisory Non-Departmental Public Body which was established by the Teaching Council (Scotland) Act 1965. It is the regulatory body for the teaching profession in Scotland. The GTCS was the first such body for teachers in the United Kingdom and one of the first teaching councils in the world.
These Ministerial public re-appointments and appointment extension were made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity within the last 5 years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. None of the appointees have been declared any political activity in the last five years.