July 2009

published:September 2009

The General Teaching Council for England met on Wednesday 1 July 2009 at Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3TR

Council received the minutes of the previous meetings and the standard decision tracking paper setting out progress in actioning previous decisions and approved these as an accurate record.  Council received a schedule of the Chair’s and Vice Chair’s business since the last Council meeting.

Council received a verbal report by the Chief Executive, Keith Bartley.

Council approved the Revised Draft Code of Conduct and Practice for Registered Teachers which will come into effect from September 2009 subject to a couple of amendments.

Council received a paper entitled the Council’s work on equalities and diversity which detailed the range of ways in which the Council’s work is supporting improved equalities and diversity outcomes across the school workforce and in the interests, above all, of children and young people.  Council noted the report and approved a recommendation to survey Members on their training needs with regards to equalities issues.

Council received a paper on the 2009/10 Corporate Risk Register; they considered and endorsed the corporate risks and control measures identified.

Council received a report of the Summary of work of Committees. They noted the paper and agreed a number of recommendations.

Council received a report entitled Council Effectiveness. Council noted the results and key messages that emerged from the Council Effectiveness survey and agreed for the Governance 2012 programme board to progress further in the area. 

Council received a report on Performance Monitoring: Quarter 4 which informed Council of the progress achieved in the final quarter of the 2008-09 financial year in implementing that year’s Corporate Plan.

Council considered a motion put forward by a Council Member in relation to Member expenses and agreed the principle of disclosure and agreed to delegate to the Finance and General Purposes Committee consideration of a proposal from the Head of Finance and the Council Secretary for the management of realistic mechanisms for such disclosure having regard to practice in other regulatory / public bodies.

Finally the Councill considered and approved in private session the Annual Report and Financial Statements.