Lay Fitness to Teach panel member

We need lay applicants to sit on our Fitness to Teach panels. Panels play a crucial role in upholding high standards in teaching by hearing evidence and making decisions about the fitness to teach of individuals who apply to be, or who are, registered with GTC Scotland.
You must not be, nor have ever been, registered with GTC Scotland and you must not hold a qualification which would make you eligible for registration with GTC Scotland.

Further information and how to apply can be found on our website: https://www.gtcs.org.uk/about-us/vacancies

Experience required

A good level of availability to commit to multi-day and in-person hearings
Independence of mind and ability to demonstrate fairness
Excellent communication skills
An ability to work successfully as part of a team
A real commitment to the role, a determination to make a difference and to maintain high standards in teaching

Travel details

Some hearings take place virtually and others will be held in person at our office in Edinburgh. You would need to be available to attend both.

Travel expenses

Panel member posts are voluntary, unpaid public appointments. Panel members are not employees of GTC Scotland. Panel members can claim compensation and expenses in line with our member expenses and compensation scheme policy.

Training details

Mandatory induction training will take place on Wednesday 25 November at Clerwood House, 96 Clermiston Road, Edinburgh EH12 6UT. You must be available to attend this training session as a condition of appointment to the role. We advise you to hold this date in your diary.

Restrictions

Minimum age: 18
You must not be, nor have ever been, registered with GTC Scotland and you must not hold a qualification which would make you eligible for registration with GTC Scotland.

Availability

Frequency & commitment

Panel members need to be flexible and responsive to our requirements. Hearings last on average between 4 and 6 days. A number of hearings are more complex and so can take longer at around 8 to 10 days.

Some hearings take place virtually and others will be held in person at our office in Edinburgh. You would need to be available to attend both. Once we know that a case is going to a hearing, in most cases we schedule the hearing early on and so need your availability many months ahead.

In addition to hearings, panel members also attend panel meetings. These meetings take place virtually and last for a full day.

Preparation time, for example reading of case papers for hearings, is in addition to the days sitting as panel member. Case papers can range from a few pages to hundreds of pages.

GTC Scotland does not guarantee a minimum number of days attendance.

I want to volunteer