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Original poster

Govt to scrap the GTC

31 replies

DinahRod · 03/06/2010 10:24

Michael Gove has announced that the GTC doesn't help children learn or teachers teach so it's going to go - hooray.

So do I still need to pay this year's "subscription"?

OP posts:
RollaCoasta · 03/06/2010 10:38

I just read in the paper today that teachers were refunded only £33 out of £36.50 subscription for the GTC. So does that mean I've been paying £3.50 a year out of my own money? What a rip off!

Glad they got rid of it, although I'm sure it was formed with the best of intentions. Don't think it had any chance in thepresence of such strong unions.

prh47bridge · 03/06/2010 10:40

I don't think anyone knows yet. The government need to pass an Act of Parliament to abolish the GTC. That's expected to happen in the Autumn. The GTC say they are "seeking legal advice on our position and will be seeking urgent clarification from Ministers and Department for Education officials on the implications of today?s announcement for the GTC?s work over the next period and for its staff and Members." I suspect that means the GTC intends to oppose the move to abolish it (surprise surprise!).

If I were you I'd sit tight and wait for further announcements.

mnistooaddictive · 03/06/2010 18:14

As a SAHM not currently teaching apart from some 121 tuition, I had to pay the subscription myself. I was advised I ghad to stay registered but with no income I had to pay the fee myself. This seemed very wrong to me as I was hardly likely to need their services as I wasn't working. I am glad they are going. They never did me any good!

Littlefish · 03/06/2010 19:42

About bloody time. Complete waste of money.

Tinuviel · 03/06/2010 19:44

Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks that you don't get much (or indeed anything!) for your money!!

RollaCoasta · 03/06/2010 20:14

I wonder if anyone ever did one of their courses that they used to advertise in their glossy brochure?

Littlefish · 03/06/2010 20:21

All I've ever had is a crappy magazine.

I also have a major objection about them due to the way they treated a friend of mine (and doubtless countless others).

During one of the school holidays, he was breathalised and found to be just over the limit (this was the day after he had been drinking). He apologised and accepted the fine, points, re-education programme etc. but made a decision not to tell his headteacher that he had lost his licence as he didn't consider it relevant to his ability to do his job. 6 months later the GTC wrote to him to tell him that if he didn't tell the school, they would write to the school and do it.

The GTC is a pointless waste of time.

RollaCoasta · 03/06/2010 20:41

(That kind of information usually comes from a meddlesome parent lol)

BuzzingNoise · 03/06/2010 20:43

Yay! I hope it goes. Crap waste of money and time that it is. It caused me massive problems when I was registering for supply work. AND when I first qualified, they registered me twice and took THREE years to sort it, so I had two DFES numbers and had to pay subscription twice, of which only was 1 was refunded.

Littlefish, so that's where our money is going. How ridiculous.

pointydog · 03/06/2010 20:48

Really? Wow. Good. Wonder what will happen with the scottish one.

ravenAK · 03/06/2010 20:55

Fantastic news.

RollaCoasta · 03/06/2010 21:31

Tell you another thing they could scrap while they're at it - the Primary Education magazine, stuffed full with toadies!

Littlefish · 03/06/2010 21:33

What's that the Rolla? Never seen the Primary Education magazine. Is it a freebie?

RollaCoasta · 03/06/2010 21:39

Yes - DSCF (?) produced glossy.
You have really missed out

I get one delivered through my letterbox and one at school!

jjh59 · 03/06/2010 22:23

Will be glad to see the back of GTC. Unnecessary and intrusive. I was shocked to read the Littlefish post above. Who the hell do the GTC think they are doing what they did to that poor teacher. He made a decision not to tell his employer that was based on his ability to perform his duties as a teacher and I totally understand and agree with his decision. To have the GTC then stand over him acting like "Big Brother" and threaten him in the way they did is truly shocking and should have no place in anopen, free and democratic society which Britain claims to be. It is a Soviet style dispicable act. Cheerio GTC. Hopefully consigned to the dustbin of history.

Littlefish · 04/06/2010 10:00

jjh59 - I know. It's shocking, isn't it.

He is a dedicated, passionate, outstanding teacher. In no way did that change when he made a mistake in timing (and that is genuinely what it was. He waited until early afternoon until driving, but it just wasn't quite enough).

His headteacher was very supportive, but still had to go through the disciplinary process once he'd been notified. Thank goodness, no further action was taken by the school, but it will be on his record .

My friend was utterly embarrased by the whole incident, and furious with the GTC.

jjh59 · 04/06/2010 10:22

And so he should be furious Littlefish. Pass on my regards to him from on eteacher to another. Did he have to go through the disciplinary process with the GTC? If so, what happened?

Thandeka · 04/06/2010 10:40

The GTC is like that though- You should read through their cases which are all published online- really scary stuff
www.gtce.org.uk/regulation/disciplinary_orders/

When they brought out the new code of conduct for teachers it gave heads new powers for bullying and hounding teachers out of jobs simply by referrals. I suspect a lot of the referrals to the GTC are by bullies within schools.

I really really hope they go (especially as I didn't realise once my mat leave ends and I am a SAHM too I would have to pay them myself! Although I read in TES that you can just keep refusing to pay them and they just keep sending you letters as that is all they actually have the power to do!)

TheFallenMadonna · 04/06/2010 10:44

It will be replaced by something else though surely? Because they're not going to leave us as a self-regulating profession. I strongly suspect it will be something that involves more paperwork and more inspection. PM gone mad.

TheFallenMadonna · 04/06/2010 10:46

I didn't pay during my 5 years out btw. And I lost my registration of course. But you can (could!) re-register by filling in a form. It just took a long time for them to get around to it. After they'd taken my money...

prh47bridge · 04/06/2010 11:04

Michael Gove has said he wants "stronger and clearer arrangements in relation to teacher misconduct". It isn't clear what this will mean in practise.

Littlefish · 04/06/2010 14:00

jjh59 - no, he didn't have to go through the GTC for his disciplinary procedure, just the school.

prh47bridge - that's interesting. I wonder what they are thinking of?

Thandeka - I'll have a look at your link later. Thanks.

cat64 · 04/06/2010 17:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Coderooo · 04/06/2010 17:26

Littlefish - he would have been bannes surely?
i think failure to discloe a conviction is bad tbh

RollaCoasta · 04/06/2010 18:03

I can't believe the naming and shaming page! How humiliating.

I wonder how Gove's "stronger and clearer arrangements in relation to teacher misconduct" will fit in with the idea of academies being independent from central control?