Presentation to Teacher Education Students about the
Teaching Council and the process of registration
(including Garda vetting)
What’s this presentation about?
• Professionally-led Regulation• Role and Functions of the Teaching Council• The NQT Registration Process• Question and Answer Session
What is a Regulated Profession?
• A regulated profession is responsible for – Entry standards and qualifications required to practice– Knowledge skills and competence required– Ethical standards and rules of conduct– Policing its own ranks
• Hallmarks of a profession – skills, integrity, trust
• Professional bodies are accountable to the public and are responsible for the standing of the profession as a whole
• Professional bodies have different functions to unions
Background
• International trends towards professional and occupational regulation
• Teachers, Unions, Parents, Management bodies, and others have looked for the establishment of a self-regulating body for teaching in Ireland for over 40 years.
• Why? Ownership of the profession in the profession; maintain and enhance public trust
About Us
• Set up and governed by Teaching Council Act, 2001• Established on 28 March, 2006• 37 members
• 22 Teachers• 4 from Colleges, 4 School management • 2 Parents Associations, 5 Ministerial nominees
• Committee Structure Registration, Education, Finance, Executive, Audit, Investigating & Disciplinary
Pre-Registration
Standards of Entry
Teacher Education
Programmes
Registration
Recognition of Qualifications
Register of Teachers
Post-Registration
Induction
Probation
Codes of Conduct
CPD*
Fitness to* Practice
Other Functions
Research
Advising the Minister
Representing the Teaching Profession
Cooperating with GTCNI
Statutory Functions
Teacher Education
• Review & Accreditation of Programmes of Teacher Education
• Developing a Policy on the Continuum of Teacher Education
Initial Teacher Education Induction
Continuing Professional
Development
Registration Requirements
• Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations • Introduced in November 2009• Superseded previous arrangements• NFQ Level 8 profession required from April 2013 – all sectors…• Teaching qualification required from April 2013 – all sectors…
• Register of Teachers Established• 79,000 currently registered (Nov. 2012)• Almost 4,000 NQTs added each year
Registration
• Full registration – when all registration requirements have been met
• Conditional registration– where one or more registration requirements have not been met but the
applicant is allowed onto the Register providing they remedy the shortfall within a specified period
• Teaching Service Conditions– Induction, Probation or Post Qualification Employment (PQE)
• Qualification Conditions (generally applied to those who qualify outside of Ireland)
– Irish Language Requirement (primary), History and Structure of Irish Education System (post-primary)
Condition of Induction
• Induction takes place during that critical period at the beginning of the newly qualified teacher’s career
• The Out of School Workshop Programme now mandatory for all NQTS
• For further details: www.teacherinduction.ie
Condition of Probation (Primary)
• All newly qualified primary teachers are registered with this condition– Service requirement – Minimum 100 days (2 x 50 or 1 x 100)
teaching service (post qualification)– Professional Competence Requirement - satisfactory report from
the Inspectorate– Form C - when the requirements have been met, the teacher
completes and returns Form C to the Council.
• Condition is removed when proof of Service and Competence requirements is received by the Council (i.e. Form C)
Post Qualification Employment (PQE)(Post-Primary)
• All newly qualified post-primary teachers are registered with this condition
– Service - proof of minimum 300 hours teaching service– Form B – must be completed by the teacher and countersigned by the
School Principal for each period of teaching service
• Condition is removed when proof of 300 hours service is received by the Council (i.e. Form B)
• Timeframe extensions may be granted in extenuating circumstances
• The requirements of PQE can be met abroad
Registration and Subjects (Post-Primary)
• Subjects are determined at the time of registration based on degree transcripts meeting subject criteria – Not the ‘Autoquals’ list.
• In most subjects the Council is seeking to establish that there is a minimum 54 ECTS Credits coverage of a curricular subject in the degree.
• Applicants can take further subject modules to make up for any shortfalls that exist in the coverage of the subject in their degree.
Registration Timeline for NQTs
• Today– Complete the pink Consent Form and return it as per instructions given today– Allows your college to send us your details and results
• Within the next month– Complete the blue Garda Vetting Form and post it to the Council ASAP.– Complete the yellow Character Reference Form and retain
• July 2013 (when you have passed your exams)
– Teaching Council will invite you to register by sending you the NQT Registration Application Form
• August 2013 – Expect confirmation of becoming a Registered Teacher – congratulations!– With your Registration Number and Garda Vetting completed, you can be
employed as a Registered Teacher.
Remember…
• Pink Consent Form - return it as per instructions given today
• Character Reference Form – complete it ASAP and retain safely for submission with your NQT Registration Application Form
• Vetting Application Form – complete it ASAP and send it to the Teaching Council.
Requirement to be registered and vetted for employment
• Section 30 – The requirement to be registered
• Circulars of the Department of Education and Skills
Contact Details
www.teachingcouncil.ie
[email protected]@teachingcouncil.ie
@TeachingCouncil
LoCall: 1890 224 224T: 01- 651 7900
The Teaching Council, Block A, Maynooth Business Campus, Maynooth, Co. Kildare