Standards

last updated:December 2011

What we say about standards
The Code of Conduct and Practice for Registered Teachers sets out expectations of conduct and practice for registered teachers. Its purpose is to guide teachers’ everyday judgements and actions and provide the GTC with principles to use in regulating the profession.

The Code includes examples of instances in which teachers’ conduct or practice has fallen seriously short of expected standards and the GTC has taken disciplinary action. These examples are intended to give an indication of how the GTC may interpret the Code in its disciplinary proceedings.

Conduct and competence
Teachers’ employers must refer cases of misconduct to the relevant organisation.

The Independent Safeguarding Authority deals with those cases thatrelate to the safety of children and young people under 19. Other casesmust be referred to the GTC.

Members of the public can also refer professional conduct cases to the GTC.

The GTC also deals with cases of serious lack of professional competence.

How we deal with cases
Cases are heard by a panel, which includes two teachers and one person who is not in the teaching profession.

Each panel has an independent legal adviser, and the hearing is held in public.

If a case is proven, the panel can issue the following sanctions:

• reprimand (warning)
• conditional registration, where the teacher must meet conditionsset by the panel to be able to register with us and so continue teaching
• suspending the teacher, with conditions if appropriate, for up to two years; and
• banning the teacher from teaching.