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Listen
The Scottish Government
Schools Directorate
Teachers Division
T: 0131-244 0954 F: 0131-244 0978
E: Michael.Kellet@Scotland.gsi.gov.uk
2 April 2009
Interested Parties
CONSULTATION ON THE FUTURE STATUS OF THE GENERAL TEACHING COUNCIL FOR SCOTLAND
This consultation document invites comments on the future status of the General Teaching Council for Scotland. Currently, the GTCS is classed as an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body ( NDPB). This means that while it is not a Government Department, it is still part of the structure of Government in Scotland and is sponsored by Schools Directorate.
In January 2008, the First Minister announced that the GTCS would be established as a "self-regulating, profession-led body, along the lines of the General Medical Council". The move away from being an advisory NDPB to a fully independent body provides an opportunity to consider the responsibilities of the GTCS and the way in which these responsibilities are delivered. This consultation invites comments on the future role of the GTCS and how the organisation should be governed.
The consultation is now available online at www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations.
Responding to this consultation paper
We are inviting written responses to this consultation by 26 June 2009.
It is possible to respond to this consultation by downloading the response form from www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations and then by sending the form to David.Roy@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. Alternatively respondents may print the consultation, remove chapter 4 from the paper itself and send it the address below.
David Roy, Teachers Division, Scottish Government, 2C South, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ
If you have any queries contact David Roy on 0131 2444925.
We would be grateful if you would use the consultation response form provided as this will aid our analysis of the responses received. However the use of the response form is optional and responses on any relevant issue in any format are welcome.
Handling your response
We need to know how you wish your response to be handled and, in particular, whether you are happy for your response to be made public. Please complete and return the Respondent Information Form enclosed with this consultation paper as this will ensure that we treat your response appropriately. If you ask for your response not to be published we will regard it as confidential, and we will treat it accordingly.
All respondents should be aware that the Scottish Government are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and would therefore have to consider any request made to it under the Act for information relating to responses made to this consultation exercise.
Next steps in the process
Where respondents have given permission for their response to be made public (see the attached Respondent Information Form), these will be made available to the public in the Scottish Government Library and on the Scottish Government consultation web pages by August 2009. We will check all responses where agreement to publish has been given for any potentially defamatory material before logging them in the library or placing them on the website. You can make arrangements to view responses by contacting the SG Library on 0131 244 4552. Responses can be copied and sent to you, but a charge may be made for this service.
What happens next?
Following the closing date, all responses will be analysed and considered along with any other available evidence to help the Scottish Ministers take decisions regarding the future status of the GTCS. We are aiming to issue a report on this consultation later in the year. Stakeholders may wish to note that the Public Service Reform Bill, which is needed to allow the Scottish Government to take forward changes to the Council, is due to be introduced to the Scottish Parliament in spring 2009.
Comments and complaints
If you have any comments about how this consultation exercise has been conducted, please send them to the address above.
Thank you for taking time to participate in this consultation.
Michel Kellet
Deputy Director
Teachers Division
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