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13. As part of its study, Deloitte and Touche benchmarked the GTC against a number of other similar organisations. They found that the GTC, with 49 members, was not out of line with other organisations. A survey of registered teachers also found that most considered the GTC to have an appropriate number of members. Nonetheless, the report recommends a reduction in the number of members from 49 to 39 on the basis that fewer but multi-functional committees (see paragraph 25) with fewer members and the greater use of co-option would require fewer Council members.
| The Scottish Executive considers that the important aspects to address in this review of the current provisions are the overall balance of interests on the Council in terms of elected teacher representatives and other interests and the widening of the interests represented on the Council. This widening of interests in particular would be less easy to achieve if there was a reduction in the overall size of the Council. The report does not make a particularly strong case for a reduction in the overall size of the Council's membership and there was strong support for the current level of membership. The proposals in this paper for the future membership of the Council therefore assume no reduction in the overall size. Scottish Ministers will, however, take a view on the overall size of the Council in the light of responses to this consultation. |
Balance of interests within the membership
14. Most of those consulted by Deloitte and Touche took the view that registered teachers should have a majority on the Council and the report concludes that this is appropriate and should continue to be the case.
| Scottish Ministers are firmly committed to registered teachers having a majority of places on the Council. |
15. However, in written submissions to Deloitte and Touche, respondents who had reservations about the GTC's performance in representing its members accurately outnumbered those who felt that members were well represented. A common concern was that the GTC tended to represent the professional organisations (see paragraph 16). Most respondents offered views on necessary changes to the organisation and operations of the GTC to improve performance and prepare for additional powers (if conferred). One of the most common suggestions was that there should be a review of the membership of the Council, with specific suggestions including:
The report recommends that 20 of 39 members of the Council should be registered teachers.
| The Scottish Executive takes the view that the GTC should be more representative than it is at present of interests other than registered teachers to enable it to draw on a wide range of skills and experience and allow it to reflect more fully the range of bodies and persons with an interest in high standards of teaching. While the Scottish Executive does not accept that the case has been made for a reduction in the overall size of the Council, Ministers' initial view is that the ratio of registered teachers to other members recommended in the report provides an appropriate balance. They therefore propose that there should be 25 out of 49 places on the Council for registered teachers. As with overall size of the Council, Ministers will give further consideration to the balance of interests on the Council in the light of responses to the consultation. |
16. The report notes that staff and professional associations endorse candidates in the elections to the GTC and, as a result, the majority of registered teachers elected are those supported by them. This applies particularly to those supported by the Educational Institute of Scotland. There was widespread concern, particularly from education authorities, about the dominance of the EIS on the GTC; 23 of the 30 elected teachers on the current Council are members of the EIS. Only 56% of those registered teachers responding to Deloitte and Touche considered that the GTC was accountable to the profession and only 59% took the view that the current composition of the Council was representative of the profession. The report suggests ways that the GTC could be more accountable to the profession as a whole and that the electoral system should be simplified - these are important issues, but not the main concern of this consultation. We have no intention of altering the principle that teachers are elected to the GTC, as elections strengthen public accountability. It would be naïve to assume that the professional associations, and the EIS in particular with around 61% of teachers in membership, will not continue to play an influential role in the elections. The additional powers proposed for the GTC in this consultation paper would of course increase its relevance to all teachers beyond the probationary stage in their careers.
17. As noted above, the Scottish Executive firmly believes that professional self-government requires that teachers should maintain a majority on their professional body. The report also notes, however, that there is a strong and valid view that the composition of the GTC should reflect a proper balance of the different interests and views within the teaching profession as a whole and that this view would be strengthened if the GTC were to take on additional functions, particularly where these relate in some part to the responsibilities of employers.
18. While, currently, the GTC includes most or all major components of the teaching profession, this state of affairs is not guaranteed. The report therefore proposes that the representation of registered teachers should be divided into a number of constituencies, which could include:
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The Scottish Executive agrees that the elected teacher representation on the GTC should reflect all aspects of the profession. Ministers' initial view is that the categories identified above are appropriate, but that there should be separate categories for further education and staff in teacher education institutions. Question: do you agree that the representation of registered teachers on the Council should be divided into constituencies? Should they be the ones set out above? If not, what should they be? Do you have a view on the balance of representation between the different constituencies within the proposed total of 25 places? In relation to registered teachers working in teacher education institutions, Ministers would propose that the current allocation of 5 places should be reduced, in view of the proposals in paragraph 19.3 that there should be places on the Council for appointed members representing higher education institutions providing initial teacher education, and taking into account the relatively small number of registered teachers in the teacher education voting category. It would also no longer seem necessary to specify the level of staff from teacher education institutions (ie 4 out of the 5 should be principals) given the proposals relating to appointed members. |
19. The report notes that, since the 1965 Act, there have been significant changes in the structure of education, including changes in the higher and further education sectors and local government reorganisation. It is suggested that there is also a need formally to recognise the role of the parent and to underline the importance of the employer. The report proposes that the non-teacher representation on the GTC should be adjusted to include representatives of:
| The Scottish Executive agrees that all of these categories should be represented on the Council. |
At present, employers' interests are represented by 3 appointments by COSLA, 3 appointments by ADES and one appointment by the ASC (as the umbrella body for colleges of further education). The employers of teachers working in the independent sector are not represented.
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The Scottish Executive considers that no changes are required in representation from COSLA, ADES and the ASC. The Scottish Executive proposes that one member of Council should be appointed by the Scottish Council of Independent Schools. |
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The Scottish Executive agrees that there should be explicit representation on the Council for organisations representing parents. Ministers propose that there should be 1 place and a specific organisation should not be prescribed in legislation as names can change and organisations can emerge or disappear. The GTC should make an appointment on the basis of nominations from bodies prominent in this field at the time the appointment is requiring to be made. |
In total, the current provisions allow for 6 appointed members from the higher education sector. However, both the university and the central institutions categories were intended to provide members from institutions which did not themselves provide ITE. The only representation at the moment from the TEIs is therefore through the elected teacher representatives.
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This opportunity should be taken to modernise the provisions to reflect changes in the structure of the higher education sector generally and the fact that, other than in the case of Northern College, all teacher education now takes place in university faculties/departments of education. Northern College is in discussion with Aberdeen and Dundee universities about merger with those institutions. The management of higher education institutions providing teacher education should be represented through a specific allocation of places within an overall allocation of places for higher education institutions. The view of the Scottish Executive is that 7 places might be available for higher education institutions, with 4 places within this being for providers of initial teacher education. |
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As noted above, there is one member appointed by the Association of Scottish Colleges. The Scottish Executive does not propose to alter this arrangement. |
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The Scottish Executive does not propose to alter the arrangements described in paragraph 12. |
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The Scottish Executive agrees that the world of business should have nominating rights to the GTC. Ministers' initial view is that, as probably the largest and best known representative body, the Confederation of British Industry in Scotland (CBI) should have the right to nominate one member to the GTC. |
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The Scottish Executive considers that it would be useful and appropriate to have representation on the GTC from the social work field for a number of reasons, eg: the close links between child care and early years education; the growing concerns over the position of children looked after by local authorities, especially their educational attainment; and the development of new community schools. Ministers propose that the Association of Directors of Social Work in Scotland (ADSW) should have the right to nominate one member to the GTC. |
20. As noted above, Scottish Ministers (previously the Secretary of State for Scotland) have the power to nominate 4 members of the Council. This power has been used to secure coverage of interests unlikely to be reflected in the elected and appointed members. Nominees have been selected as having experience in the business/industry, financial or legal fields and/or an involvement in educational matters as a parent. Under a recent amendment to the 1965 Act, Ministers are required to ensure that the membership of the Council reflects the interests of persons concerned with the teaching of persons with special educational needs. This was put into effect in nominations to the current Council. Nominees do not represent Ministers or the Department on the Council. (The 1965 Act allows Ministers to appoint assessors to the Council and this function is carried out by staff of the SEED and HM Inspectorate of Schools.)
21. Under the proposals outlined above, some of the interests who have been taken into account in Ministers' nominations would themselves have nominating rights to the GTC. However, there are a variety of representative organisations in the areas of business and special educational needs and there are many bodies which seek to represent the interests either of all parents or certain groups of them.
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The Scottish Executive takes the view that the nominations by Ministers will continue to provide a useful means of achieving balance on the Council, for example by ensuring that the Council includes some legal and financial expertise and has enough members to reflect the wider public interest. |
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