GTCW statement in response to the proposed abolition of the General Teaching Council for England

At its meeting on 9th July, Council recorded its regret at the announcement made last month by the Secretary of State for Education in England, Michael Gove, of his intention to introduce a Bill to abolish the General Teaching Council for England.

Professionally-led regulation gives the public assurance about teaching quality by ensuring teachers are appropriately qualified and registered; by setting out the high standards expected of registered teachers through a Code; and by investigating and hearing individual cases of professional misconduct and incompetence.

Professionally-led regulation also contributes to raising the status of the profession and provides government with a unique source of independent, research-based advice on teaching issues. It is regrettable that this decision comes at a time when parents and the general public have both increased respect for the professionalism of teachers as well as high expectations of teaching standards.

The abolition of GTCE will leave teachers in England as the only professionals in the UK without a representative professional body as well as raise a number of practical issues when teachers from England seek employment in Wales in the future.

This announcement relates to England only and does not apply to Wales where all education matters are the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government.