Regulatory Documents

The GTCW is the statutory, self-regulating professional body for teachers in Wales. It seeks to raise the status of teaching by maintaining and promoting the highest standards of professional practice and conduct in the interests of teachers, pupils and the general public.

Under Section 134 of the Education Act 2002, and the Education (Specified Work and Registration (Wales) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/1744 (W. 183)), every qualified teacher who carries out the specified work of a teacher in a maintained school must be registered with the General Teaching Council for Wales.

Under the terms of the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998, as amended by the Education Act 2002, the Council is responsible for investigating and hearing cases of unacceptable professional conduct, serious professional incompetence and/or where a teacher has been convicted (at any time) of a relevant offence, or it appears that a registered teacher may be so guilty or has been so convicted.

All cases are considered, investigated and heard in the public interest. This includes the protection of members of the public, the maintenance of public confidence in the profession and the declaration and upholding of proper standards of conduct and competence.

The Council’s powers in these matters are further set out under The National Assembly for Wales Statutory Instrument No. 2001/1424 (W.99) The General Teaching Council for Wales (Disciplinary Functions) Regulations 2001, as amended.

The Disciplinary Procedures and Rules in Section 2 will be kept under continuous review and will be updated as and when considered appropriate by the Council.

This document is available for download in pdf format from here.

The General Teaching Council for Wales is the statutory, self-regulating professional body for teachers in Wales. It seeks to raise the status of teaching by maintaining and promoting the highest standards of professional practice and conduct in the interests of teachers, pupils and the general public.

Since September 2003, every Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT), save for certain exemptions under legislation, has been required to complete a statutory Induction period if he or she wishes to teach in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in Wales. This Induction period of three school terms or equivalent is undertaken upon the NQT attaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The National Assembly for Wales Circular No: 015/2008 Induction and Early Professional Development for Newly Qualified Teachers in Wales sets out the End of Induction standard NQTs are required to meet during their Induction period, together with the roles and responsibilities of the NQT, the Appropriate Body and school personnel involved in the Induction process.

Under the terms of the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998, as amended by the Education Act 2002, the Council will hear appeals from NQTs who fail assessment against the End of Induction standard, but are dissatisfied by such a decision. The Council’s functions in these matters are further set out under the National Assembly for Wales Statutory Instrument No. 2003/543 (W.77) The Education (Induction Arrangements for School Teachers) (Wales) Regulations 2003.

These procedures for the hearing of Induction appeals shall be known as the Guidance and Procedures for the Hearing of Induction Appeals 2009. They shall come into force on 28th April 2009 and will apply to all Induction appeals in respect of which the Notice of Appeal is received by the Council on or after 28th April 2009. The Guidance and Procedures for the Hearing of Induction Appeals, which were approved by the Council on 31st March 2004 are hereby revoked, save that they will continue to apply in relation to any Induction appeal in respect of which the Notice of Appeal was received by the Council before 28th April 2009, unless the appellant or his or her representative agrees in writing to have the appeal dealt with under the these procedures.

This document explains the Council’s procedures for hearing Induction appeals in accordance with relevant legislation. It is intended for use by the parties who might typically be involved in an Induction appeal, their representatives, and the Committee members hearing the appeal.

This document is available for download in pdf format from here.

The GTCW is the statutory, self-regulating professional body for teachers in Wales. It seeks to raise the status of teaching by maintaining and promoting the highest standards of professional practice and conduct in the interests of teachers, pupils and the general public.

Under Section 134 of the Education Act 2002 and Regulation 7 of the Education (Specified Work and Registration) (Wales) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/1744 (W. 183)), every qualified teacher who carries out the ‘specified work’ of a teacher in a maintained school must be registered with the General Teaching Council for Wales. Other persons with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), such as those working in independent schools, further or higher education, as home tutors or those not currently teaching are also encouraged to register.

In accordance with the Education Act 2002 and the Education Act 2002 (Commencement No. 10 and Transitional Provisions)(Wales) Order 2006 (WSI 2006 No.1336 (W.129)(C.44)), a teacher is not eligible for registration with the Council unless it is satisfied that he or she is suitable to be a registered teacher.

All suitability assessments are investigated and heard in the public interest. This includes the protection of members of the public, the maintenance of public confidence in the profession and the declaration and upholding of proper standard of conduct and competence.

The Suitability to be a Registered Teacher - Procedures and Rules in Section 2 will be kept under continuous review and will be updated as and when considered appropriate by the Council.

This document is available for download in pdf format from here.