Teachers
The GTC is the professional body for teaching in England. Their aim is to work in the public interest to help to improve standards of teaching and learning. The recognise that the public has a right to expect that teachers hold the highest professional standards and that teachers have a right to be sure that their peers are in good standing with their professional body. All qualified teachers employed in a maintained school, a non-maintained special school or a pupil referral unit must be registered with the GTC. Since September 2008 the GTC has required all those training to be teachers to be provisionally registered with the GTC.
The Disciplinary Process
Screening
On receipt of a case, GTC staff firstly screen it to determine whether the GTC has jurisdiction and whether or not it meets a minimum threshold of likely impact on the teacher’s registration. The teacher is able to submit representations on the matters referred and they may be represented.
Investigation
If it is decided that the GTC has jurisdiction and that the case meets the minimum threshold then the case goes to an investigating committee of GTC members who meet in private and will determine whether there is a case to answer. The committee then decides either:
- That there is no case to answer and the matter ends there, or
- That there is a case to answer and that it should go forward to either a professional competence committee or a professional conduct committee.
Three days before the hearing the name and school of the teacher and the committee they are to appear before are posted on the GTC website and in the foyers of the GTC’s offices.
The Hearing
These are three-person committees and normally meet in public. The exceptions to this are:
- When there are reasons why all or part of a hearing should be held in private, for example top protect child witnesses;
- When a teacher admits guilt, requests for the case to be resolved without a hearing and the Registrar and committee agree that this is in the interests of the public and justice
There are two registered teachers and one person who is not in the teaching profession on each committee. The GTC aims to carry out proceedings in an investigative rather than an adversarial way and to safeguard the dignity of the teacher and all other parties involved.
The teacher has the right to participate in the proceedings and to be represented.
The hearing committee then considers in detail whether the allegations can be factually supported. If a case is proved the committee will then consider whether a disciplinary sanction is necessary and, if it is, the level of sanction that is appropriate.
Information about disciplinary orders is published on the GTC website for three months following the hearing.
What disciplinary orders can the GTC make?
The GTC can make the following disciplinary orders where allegations are proved or criminal offences are found to be relevant:
- Reprimand: a reprimand will remain on the register for a two year period;
- Conditional registration order: this applies conditions to registration for a specified period, or without limit of time;
- Suspension order: this suspends the teacher’s eligibility to register for up to two years and may have certain conditions attached to it;
- Prohibition order: this removes the teacher’s eligibility to register. Teachers may apply for restoration of their eligibility to register following a period specified in the order, which may not be less that two years and may be for an unlimited period.
Teachers who receive suspension or prohibition orders cannot teach in a maintained school, a non-maintained special school or a pupil referral unit during the period covered by the order.
Rights of Appeal
On receipt of a disciplinary order, the teacher has 28 days to lodge an appeal with the High Court. The High Court has the power to uphold, revoke or amend a disciplinary order made by a GTC committee.
If a teacher’s name has been removed from the register indefinitely through a prohibition order, the teacher may apply for restoration of their ability to register. This application cannot be made before the end of two years from the date of removal or according to any other timescale applied by the committee.
Contact Us
If you are subject to investigation or sanctions by the GTC you should seek advice immediately.
The teaching unions can offer assistance, which may include legal support. If you are not a member of a teaching union, or want your own choice of legal advice, we can offer you expert help and support throughout the GTC investigative and adjudication process. We have extensive experience gained from representing many professionals through their disciplinary proceedings.
Please contact us with any queries. You will find our details on the Contact Us page