Press Release

GTC welcomes registration for teachers in academies

28 September 2005

The General Teaching Council has welcomed today’s announcement by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Ruth Kelly, that qualified teachers working in academies will in future be registered with the General Teaching Council, bringing them within the scope of the Council’s professional standards and regulatory framework.

The announcement by the Secretary of State came in response to the stated wish of academies themselves.

Commenting on the announcement, GTC Chief Executive Carol Adams says:

“This is a very welcome and important step forward which will bring benefits to pupils and teachers in academies and will provide assurance to parents that qualified teachers working in academies are professionally registered and of good standing.

“Academies are tackling an agenda which is central to the concerns of the GTC – raising standards of teaching and learning for underachieving children in some of our most deprived communities.  Registration with the GTC, teaching’s professional body, will give academy teachers access to our research programme and to our professional networks and allow teachers to share their expertise across very different and often challenging settings.

“Our Achieve network will be highly relevant to teachers in many academies, because it works to support the promotion of race equality in schools and to tackle the underachievement of some black and minority ethnic school pupils.  Our Connect network supports teachers leading continuing professional development.  It is a valuable tool for teachers geared to raising standards of teaching and learning.

Judy Moorhouse, Chair of the GTC, adds:

“I am delighted that this move comes in response to the expressed wish of the academies themselves, who have recognised the importance of professional registration to safeguard the public interest and want to see their teachers benefiting from the resources offered by their professional body.

“We will be working in partnership with the Specialist Schools Trust to contribute to the drive to help teachers and schools deliver the best possible standards of teaching and the widest possible opportunities for children.”