The regulatory role of the GTC

The GTC has a key role in promoting and upholding the standards of the teaching profession. As such, the Council must also determine whether action should be taken against those who have been found to perform below those standards - whether through serious misconduct or poor performance. Action by the Council may affect the ability of a teacher to teach in the maintained sector.

This role, which normally applies only in relation to those teachers already found to be below accepted standards by their employer, and after employer procedures have been completed, enables the Council to regulate the profession.

By this means, the GTC seeks to ensure that:

• children continue to receive the best possible educational opportunity
• the high standards of the many are not jeopardised by the few
• the status of the teaching profession is maintained in the eyes of the public.

The GTC believes that only with effective regulation can the high status of the profession be maintained.

Employers, whether local authorities or individual schools, are under an obligation to report such cases to the GTC.

These responsibilities must be carried out to the highest possible standards and in full compliance with all relevant legislation. The Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998 sets out the Council’s responsibilities in this area, which came into effect on 1 June 2001.

The Council's role does not include child protection cases which continue to be dealt with by the Secretary of State.