An independent review has determined that the process for investigating misconduct accusations against educators in Scotland requires significant reform.
A study reviewing the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) revealed that certain investigation processes conducted by the regulatory body are excessively time-consuming and do not meet required standards.
In addition to accelerating its “fitness to teach” procedure, the GTCS ought to be granted “enhanced powers for public protection,” says the Professional Standards Authority (PSA), which conducted the review.
The GTCS mentioned their aim for investigations to remain both impartial and streamlined, indicating they would develop an action plan following a review of the PSA’s suggestions.
As the autonomous regulatory body for educators, the GTCS holds the responsibility of confirming that the approximately 80,000 individuals listed with them are fit members of the teaching profession.
The GTCS doesn’t look into each complaint it gets.
Rather than that, they are evaluated based on the “threshold” policy to determine if the accusations impact a person’s suitability for teaching.
This indicates that the majority of grievances regarding educators usually land with their employers first, generally local authorities.
The
PSA report
mentioned that this method “could entail certain dangers.”
This is due to the fact that ” employer investigations can differ in quality, and [the] GTCS has no influence over their execution “.
The statement also suggested that the regulatory body could remain “ignorant of instances managed internally by educational institutions, leading to resolutions inadequate for safeguarding the public interest and not reported to GTCS.”
Of the few teacher referrals it analyzed, the PSA report discovered that there was no indication the GTCS had assessed either the outcomes from the employer inquiries or the initial evidence gathered during these investigations.
Rather, the case was closed after the local employers determined that there was insufficient evidence to back up the accusation.
The Scotland News has earlier covered an issue regarding
increasing accumulation of disciplinary cases
– one of which has spanned almost eight years – and involves some accusations of misconduct against educators
not being properly investigated
.
The PSA noted that the fitness to teach procedure was excessively time-consuming and found cases where certain investigative efforts were redundant since the GTCS already possessed this information.
The review also recommends that the GTCS should be granted “enhanced powers for public protection.”
This encompassed the authority to temporarily suspend teachers during pending investigations as well as the mandatory delisting of a teacher based on a severe conviction.
The report additionally took issue with the regulation that permits the GTCS to conclude a case either initially or subsequently in the proceedings if it has been open for over five years.
The statement read: “We do not believe that imposing an indiscriminate timeframe for submitting a reference is essential, suitable, or beneficial.”
The report also noted that it might take considerable time for the “full truth of intricate circumstances to become evident.”
‘This review is damning’
Neil McLennan, an education adviser, is among the four advocates leading this initiative.
A petition under consideration by Scottish Members of Parliament
, which is demanding an inquiry into the purported improper handling of child protection concerns by various public entities, such as the GTCS.
“The review is highly critical,” he stated.
The GTCS have failed to safeguard children, teachers, and the public. Their efforts have only been directed at maintaining their own reputation.
High-ranking individuals who have dismissed, contradicted, and assaulted those raising valid concerns must step down right away.
He stated that the organization needs to cease utilizing funds collected from members for “shielding reputations” and further emphasized that it should be “dissolved at once.”
McLennan stated, “Every case that has been improperly handled by GTCS and brought up by the media should now undergo an independent investigation.”
‘We desired to face challenges.’
The GTCS, responsible for overseeing teachers rather than their employers, has previously requested clarity on how its role as a regulatory body interfaces with broader mechanisms designed to ensure public safety.
The statement also indicated that over 80,000 educators are listed in their registry, with merely a small portion—approximately 200 annually—being referred for questions about their suitability to teach.
Out of this total, approximately 25 individuals are typically taken off the teaching roster each year.
Jennifer Macdonald, the strategic director at GTCS, stated: “Our aim was to face challenges, and the PSA has accomplished this with their report.”
“We have already begun to address some of the issues raised, other recommendations require collaborative work with our partners at a national level.
We understand the significance of this task as both a means of protecting the public and ensuring the integrity of the teaching profession’s reputation.
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