Something Tochew on Scottish Culture in the Modern Classroom Teachscot Pg02-03 1/10/10 15:13 Page 2
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TeachScot_pg01 1/10/10 15:13 Page 1 Education review Breaking down barriers A world’s first The review of teacher education Could you create a better relationship Digitising Scotland’s Homecoming reaches a crucial phase between parents and schools? Year 2009 for future generations TeachingFor the teaching profession, by the teaching profession Scotland October/November 2010 Issue 37 HISTORY MANI A Devine intervention CONSULTATIONI GTC Scotland independance, what’s your opinion? Something tochew on Scottish culture in the modern classroom TeachScot_pg02-03 1/10/10 15:13 Page 2 2 Welcome October/November 2010 – Contents Education review Breaking down barriers A world’s first The review of teacher education Could you create a better relationship Digitising Scotland’s Homecoming reaches a crucial phase between parents and schools? Year 2009 for future generations Teaching Scotland For the teaching profession, by the teaching profession October/November 2010 Issue 37 15 HISTORY MANI A Devine Back to intervention the future Professor Tom Devine on why Scottish History can help this generation CONSULTATIONI deal with the challenges GTC Scotland CONTACTS independance, what’s your opinion? our country is facing GTC Scotland Something tochew on Web: www.gtcs.org.uk Scottish culture in the modern classroom email: [email protected] Customer services: 0131 314 6080 Front cover image courtesy of Gillian Kyle Main switchboard: 0131 314 6000 www.gilliankyle.com Learning and Teaching Scotland 20 Web: www.ltscotland.org.uk 4 Dispatches Leading email: enquiries@LT Headline news from GTC Scotland.org.uk Scotland and the wider the way? Tel: 08700 100 297 education community. Why and how Scottish Scottish Qualifications Authority 12 Review Culture should have an Web: www.sqa.org.uk Interview with Graham active role in today’s email: [email protected] Donaldson on the Teacher classroom Tel: 0845 279 1000 Education Review. Her Majesty’s 24 Professional Practice Inspectorate of Education We invite you to think about Web: www.hmie.gov.uk what you would do in another Tel: 01506 600 2000 imaginary scenario. National CPD team 26 CPD Web: www.ltscotland.org.uk/ News, views and opportunities cpdscotland 18 email: cpdanswers@lt to help with your continued professional development. Strangers in scotland.org.uk 29 Crossword our own land Smarter Scotland Enter our prize crossword for a A personal view on Web: www.infoscotland.com chance to win a luxury weekend the impact of moving Teacher Support Network break for two. Web:www.teachersupport.info Scottish Culture into Tel:0800 564 2270 30 Chartered Teacher the periphery Our regular columnist shares her Childline Tel:0800 1111 thoughts and observations as a Parentline Tel: 0808 800 2222 Chartered Teacher. Teaching Scotland Teaching Scotland is written, Editor-in-Chief: The views expressed in Teaching made in any advertisement is the magazine of the General designed and published by Glenise Borthwick Scotland are those of invited appearing in Teaching Scotland. Connect Communications Teaching Council for Scotland email: gleniseborthwick contributors and not necessarily Readers should make appropriate (Scotland) Ltd on behalf of (GTC Scotland). GTC Scotland @gtcs.org.uk those of GTC Scotland. The enquiries and satisfy themselves GTC Scotland. www.connect information contained in Teaching is the independent Editor: Daniel Lambie before responding to any such communications.co.uk Scotland is of a general nature and professional body which email: teachingscotland advertisement, or placing reliance MAIN OFFICEi is not to be taken as advice on any maintains and enhances @gtcs.org.uk upon any such claim or GTC Scotland, Clerwood individual situation. GTC Scotland representation. By so responding, teaching standards and House, 96 Clermiston Road, Design and production: does not endorse any goods or or placing reliance, readers accept promotes and regulates the Edinburgh EH12 6UT Alan Morton, James Cargill services advertised, nor any claims that they do so at their own risk. teaching profession in T: 0131 314 6000 Paul McGinnity or representations made in any Scotland. We strive to be a EDITORIAL OFFICEi advertisement in Teaching world leader in professional Connect Communications, ADVERTISINGi Scotland and accepts no liability to education issues. GTC Studio 2001, Mile End, Clare Stebbing any person for loss or damage © GTC Scotland, 2010. ISSN: Scotland aims to promote Paisley PA1 1JS Tel: 0131 561 0024 suffered as a consequence of their 1469-3054. Teaching Scotland is equality and diversity in email: info@connect email: clare@connect responding to, or placing reliance printed on 100% recovered paper all its activities. communications.co.uk communications.co.uk upon, any claim or representation with FSC accreditation. TeachScot_pg02-03 1/10/10 15:14 Page 3 www.teachingscotland.org.uk 3 Stay Keynote connected Anthony Finn, CEO GTC Scotland Online... Keep an eye on our website for the latest news from GTC Leading the way in Scotland. There are also information sections to help you at every stage of your career. professionalism www.gtcs.co.uk We are beginning to understand what the future holds CPD needs of teachers and the support which teachers may for GTC Scotland. The Scottish Government has recently require to develop their skills. This was difficult to answer, but it Tweet us... published a parliamentary order which builds on the decisions does go right to the centre of teacher professionalism. For instant updates and made in the spring and seeks views about how these There is compelling evidence that the quality of a teacher can the chance to share your might be implemented. You can find more details on make a fundamental difference to the quality of learning. I am thoughts on any issue, www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/09/13155827/0 also convinced that teachers want to do their jobs well and are follow GTC Scotland On our own website, too, we have set out questions about keen to improve their skills. And yet, there is a real risk that on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/gtcs proposals for the election and appointment of members, current financial constraints will lead to CPD budgets being about panels and also about rules which will govern the targeted as an easy option at the very time that teachers need Council in future. most support. We must therefore find ways to ensure that we The Scottish Government’s approach is very supportive of continue to invest in teaching, promoting CPD activities which GTC Scotland and contrasts sharply with that of the new are meaningful and relevant, if also cost-effective. How else can Westminster Government, which has now decided to abolish we promote and maintain high standards? GTC England, a body established only 10 years ago with more Graham Donaldson picked up similar themes in another E-news... Sign up to the Teaching limited powers than GTC Scotland. contribution to the Scottish Learning Festival. Discussing some Scotland e-newsletter for There has been much discussion in England about the of the issues which are emerging in his Review of Teacher previews and extended impact of this decision. We understand, for example, that there Education, he emphasised the strength of the teaching content, delivered straight is considerable confusion about where responsibility will lie for profession and the clear professional standards which govern it. to your inbox. teaching standards, for registration and, indeed, for the But he also rightly highlighted the different levels of support www.teachingscotland. regulation of those teachers who, for whatever reason, are available to teachers at different points in their career. org.uk/subscribe deemed unsuitable to work with children. The big question is Beginning teachers are, of course, very well supported, whether a successor body might emerge with a different name. but perhaps too much is left to chance after completion In Scotland, things are very different. Here, Government intends of the Induction Scheme. Occasionally, the quality of support to strengthen GTC Scotland’s powers, allowing it to become the available to teachers is dependent on the people with whom world’s first independent professional body for teaching. We they happen to work or on the provision available through presently have the lead role in respect of entry to teaching, local support networks. Can patchwork serendipity be a Events... professional standards and accreditation of courses; suitable base on which to build our future professional For information an independent GTC Scotland will, from 2012, have expectations? on upcoming full decision-making powers in these areas. These are big questions and I am well aware GTC Scotland As these responsibilities are, however, how easy it is to ask them and how difficult it is to events, including discharged on behalf of the teaching profession provide answers, especially in these challenging Professional Recognition, and in the wider public interest, we will times. As GTC Scotland plans to enter a new visit our website @ continue to operate by consensus, working phase, however, I believe that it will need to be www.gtcs.org.uk/events closely with key stakeholders in the profession centrally involved in this debate. I believe all and the wider educational community. teachers should have a responsibility to develop At the recent Scottish Learning Festival, I listened their skills and a right to appropriate support to allow Probationers... to the Cabinet Secretary, Michael Russell, them to do so. But what does appropriate