General Teaching Council
The General Teaching Council (GTC) was set up in 2001 so it could advise on matters affecting the teaching profession on the whole and in particular, the quality of teaching. By doing so, its aim is to maintain a certain standard of behaviour and competence of teachers within the profession, in the public interest.
Employers of teachers are under a duty to tell the GTC when a registered teacher is dismissed from their post as a result of misconduct or when a teacher resigns because they know they will be dismissed.
A hearing before the GTC can be akin to trial where witnesses are permitted, evidence is relied on and a sanction imposed, which could affect the teacher’s future in the profession. The teacher’s conduct will be judged as to whether it amounts to unacceptable professional conduct unbefitting of a teacher.
The different sanctions which may be imposed are as follows:
- reprimand (or warning)
- conditional registration, where a teacher must meet conditions set by the panel to be able to register with the GTC and so continue teaching
- suspending a teacher, with conditions if appropriate, for up to two years; and
- banning a teacher from teaching.
This is a burgeoning department within Match Solicitors. We have represented both teachers and head teachers before the General Teaching Council and undertake a diligent and detailed analysis of the facts of the case. We will also undertake a thorough and intense preparation of the evidence to place before the GTC to enable the teacher or head teacher to have the best opportunity of defending him/herself. The GTC has experienced an increasing case load since its inception. Match Solicitors has successfully represented a number of individuals before the GTC and, to date, has never outright lost a case. Results achieved for clients have spanned from a significant decrease in the number of allegations brought against a head teacher to the discontinuance of a claim brought against a teacher thereby totally absolving him from any wrongdoing.
