From September 2008 all trainee teachers will be provisionally registered with the GTC. Bea Oaff looks at the benefits.
When provisional registration is introduced in September 2008, up to 50 000 trainee teachers will be affected.
'Provisional registration will effectively bring trainee teachers into a national regulatory framework,” explains GTC Registrar, Alan Meyrick. 'We see the change as an important step forward, which should smooth the transition to qualified teacher status. It will encourage good conduct and, very occasionally, regulate poor conduct, if it’s necessary.'
Crucially, provisional registration will also enable the GTC to promote and provide its resources to teachers at a much earlier stage in their careers. Amongst the benefits is access to the GTC’s Engage network, currently set up to help newly qualified teachers and those who support them.
'As soon as someone decides to enter the teaching profession they will feel as though they are part of it,' says Alan. 'They’ll be warmly welcomed into a community that will guide them throughout their entire career. This is good news for the whole of teaching.'
GTC Registration Operations Manager, Mark Fieldsend, says every effort is being made to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible. “We’re working hard with all our stakeholders to make the new process as simple as can be,' he says. To that end, over the coming year, the GTC will be preparing the ground, informing trainees, teacher training institutions and employers of the changes ahead.
In terms of a fee – currently £33 a year for qualified teachers – trainees who don’t receive an income will not have to pay anything.
* Bea Oaff is a freelance journalist.
