TeachScot_pg01 5/8/10 14:22 Page 1 Additional support Professional practice Assessments Providing additional support for pupils What would you do if a pupil Why SQA is comfortable that plans in the classroom just became easier needed a lift home late at night? are in place to cope with CfE TeachingFor the teaching profession, by the teaching profession Scotland August/September 2010 Issue 36 CLASS ACTI Learning Festival goes global PHILANTHROPYI A discussion on its place in today’s world Annie’s song for Africa Annie Lennox on global citizenship TeachScot_pg02-05 6/8/10 10:53 Page 2 2 Welcome August/September 2010 – Contents Worth15 singing about Annie Lennox speaks exclusively to Teaching Scotland about her campaign to raise CONTACTS awareness of HIV GTC Scotland Web: www.gtcs.org.uk email: [email protected] Customer services: 0131 314 6080 4 Dispatches Main switchboard: 0131 314 6000 Headline news from GTC Learning and Teaching Scotland 20 Web: www.ltscotland.org.uk Scotland and the wider education community. To give is email: enquiries@LT to receive Scotland.org.uk 12 SLF Tel: 08700 100 297 More details on the 2010 Experts discuss the Scottish Qualifications Authority Scottish Learning Festival, one place that philanthropy Web: www.sqa.org.uk of the key events of the year. places in the classroom’s email: [email protected] Tel: 0845 279 1000 12 Professional Practice of modern Scotland Her Majesty’s We invite you to think about Inspectorate of Education what you would do in an Web: www.hmie.gov.uk imaginary scenario. Tel: 01506 600 2000 26 CPD National CPD team News, views and opportunities Web: www.ltscotland.org.uk/ to help with your continued cpdscotland 24 email: cpdanswers@lt professional development. A helping hand scotland.org.uk 30 Crossword Providing additional Smarter Scotland Enter our prize crossword for a support is an obligation, Web: www.infoscotland.com chance to win a luxury weekend but it needn’t be a chore Teacher Support Network break for two. thanks to Enquire Web:www.teachersupport.info 28 Chartered Teacher Tel:0800 564 2270 Our new column shares the Childline Tel:0800 1111 thoughts and observations of Parentline Tel: 0808 800 2222 one Chartered Teacher. Teaching Scotland Teaching Scotland is written, email: info@connect The views expressed in Teaching made in any advertisement is the magazine of the General designed and published by communications.co.uk Scotland are those of invited appearing in Teaching Scotland. Teaching Council for Scotland Connect Communications Editor-in-Chief: contributors and not necessarily Readers should make appropriate (GTC Scotland). GTC Scotland (Scotland) Ltd on behalf of Glenise Borthwick those of GTC Scotland. 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There are also information sections to help you at every stage of your career. do your very best www.gtcs.co.uk The new session, as always, will bring significant opportunities Teaching is not, in my opinion, a profession in which it is and challenges. The successful implementation of CfE will comfortable to persist in failing. Tweet us... depend on the readiness of schools to introduce new ways of Teachers do, however, need help to keep their skills up-to- For instant updates and teaching, or to adapt and refine existing approaches; date and to maintain and improve standards; and this is perhaps the chance to share your continuing concerns over budgets will create significant the main principle behind re-accreditation systems which are thoughts on any issue, pressures as schools make difficult decisions about and now so common in other occupations. While the concept of follow GTC Scotland between areas of priority; and a review of teacher education re-accreditation is challenging for our profession, the fact that on Twitter @ will presage new approaches to planning the future education Government has now asked GTC Scotland to take this initiative www.twitter.com/gtcs and training of teachers. forward is an indication that it wishes a profession-led approach. Against this background, it is perhaps surprising that there has Certainly, GTC Scotland does not wish to impose a strict system been so much attention given recently to two other issues – which requires teachers to prove again the standards they teacher competence and re-accreditation. In GTC Scotland we achieved on qualification. are well-placed to make judgements about competence and Re-accreditation (or whatever this is finally called) cannot my view is that the overwhelming majority of our teachers do a therefore be imposed on teachers; nor will it be of any value if it E-news... great job, sometimes in very difficult circumstances. Indeed, it is is perceived as threatening or burdensome. GTC Scotland will Sign up to the Teaching arguable that the professional standards of Scottish teachers are take great care to listen to teachers and their professional Scotland e-newsletter for as high as they have ever been. Of course, in every job some associations, as well as to other stakeholders, before taking this previews and extended people perform to a higher standard than others and some issue forward. content, delivered straight teachers may even do better with certain classes than with One approach might be to ensure that any new system to your inbox. others. The teachers I know, however, work very hard and wish builds on and supports the needs of individual teachers. With www.teachingscotland. to do their job as well as they can. They are keen to learn about the prospect of reduced budgets in the foreseeable future, org.uk/subscribe new ways to help their pupils and they wish to keep their own opportunities for CPD will be more limited and it may be helpful skills fresh and up-to-date. And since good teachers make a to develop a mechanism for teachers to use to review their own difference, then the better your skills, the greater the impact you needs and to consider how these might be met as their careers will make in the classroom. develop. Re-accreditation could offer a constructive procedure Recent television programmes and media articles about which confirms that teachers are seeking to maintain and Events... incompetence have therefore missed the point. Of improve their skills and that opportunities are being For information course, there will be a small number of cases in provided to allow this. It can be an entitlement rather on upcoming which GTC Scotland will be required to take than a threat; and it need not be linked to GTC Scotland action. To protect children and to maintain competence, since there are existing events, including professional standards, we need to remove mechanisms available to handle the small Professional Recognition, from our register those whose practice, when number of cases in which standards of visit our website @ judged against the Standard for Full performance are in question. www.gtcs.org.uk/events Registration, is chronically inadequate. Interesting times lie ahead, but GTC Scotland However, is it surprising that only a small number intends to take a progressive view on the of teachers reach this stage? Some teachers will development of any new systems. Every teacher have failed to meet standards during training or wants to do their job well. Let’s find a professional Probationers... For support and during probation, some will have realised way to help them continue to do so. information throughout that teaching is not for them and your probationery year, will have moved on to other GTC Scotland there’s no better site than professions; while others will take www.probationerteacher will experience scotland.org.uk temporary difficulties great care to from which, with listen to teachers support and assistance, they will and their recover and rebuild professional their careers. associations TeachScot_pg02-05 6/8/10 09:30 Page 4 4 If you have news to report, please email: [email protected] Probationer eventsi New teachers recognised by News in briefi GTC Scotland Scottish Probationer teachers congratulate the new undertaking a range teachers involved learning of CPD projects were personally.” recognised by GTC Anthony Finn said: Scotland recently.