- What is a Chartered Teacher?
- What are the benefits of Chartered Teacher status?
- Who is eligible to become a Chartered Teacher?
- How can I become a Chartered Teacher?
- Will the Chartered Teacher award be on a pass/fail basis? What will the assessment procedures be like?
- I’m not yet eligible for the CT Programme, what can I do now that would help me later?
- Will staff in rural or small schools be able to participate in the programme?
- How long is the course?
- How much will it cost me?
- I still have questions, who can I ask?
- About the Standard for Chartered Teacher
The term Chartered Teacher was introduced following the McCrone agreement (A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century). Chartered Teachers are classroom practitioners, who achieve professional recognition and an enhanced salary because they have earned a qualification based on a national professional Standard. (The Standard for Chartered Teacher)
By national agreement the Chartered Teacher salary scale contains six incremental points. A teacher progresses one point up the scale for every two Chartered Teacher modules, to a maximum of 12 modules, that he/she completes satisfactorily.
What are the benefits of Chartered Teacher status?
Experienced teachers are have faced a difficult choice: to gain further rewards and respect for their professionalism, they have to move away from the classroom into a management post. However, by gaining Chartered Teacher status, you will:
- increase your earning power
- enhance you professional recognition and career progression
- gain membership of the City and Guilds of London Institute (MCGI): a qualification comparable to a Master’s degree
- remain a classroom based professional
By obtaining Chartered Teacher status, you can gain the respect and financial rewards appropriate for an experienced professional and you will gain additional knowledge, skills and abilities that will enable you to enhance the quality of learning experiences and achievements of the students you teach.
Who is eligible to become a Chartered Teacher?
In order to register on a Chartered Teacher programme it is necessary to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility from the General Teacher Council for Scotland – www.gtcs.org.uk .
To obtain a Certificate of Eligibility you must demonstrate that you have
- a recognised teaching qualification
- full GTCS registration
- reached the top of the main grade salary scale.
How can I become a Chartered Teacher?
City & Guilds, the UK’s leading provider of vocational qualifications, has teamed up with Rocket to develop this Chartered Teacher programme. It is one of eight programmes approved by GTCS as leading to Chartered Teacher status.
For details of the Chartered Teacher programme – see Structure and Content of Program
Will the Chartered Teacher award be on a pass/fail basis? What will the assessment procedures be like?
All assessment is criterion referenced. Candidates have to demonstrate their ability to meet the requirements of the competences set out in the Standard for Chartered Teacher. Unit 1 has set tasks for all candidates and is compulsory for all candidates. Assessment here is by a reflective report and evidence of completion of the tasks.
Work on Unit 2 and Unit 3 is driven by the needs of the candidate, reflecting school needs and priorities too. As candidates begin work on these Units they agree a plan with their tutor. That will outline the activity and the evidence that will be required for the assessment. In Unit 2 and Unit 3 assessment is based on a reflective account of work undertaken and evidence to show how this work has demonstrated that the candidate meets the Standard for Chartered Teacher. In Unit 3 a literature review is required and in Unit 2 it is normal to include one.
All work is assessed and graded against the assessment criteria and the Standard as ‘satisfactory’ (S) or ‘unsatisfactory’ (U). Where a candidate has almost met the criteria but omitted some evidence or where only minor amendments are required a submission may be ‘referred’ (R) for resubmission.
There are two examination boards every year and tutors will offer advice on submissions.
I’m not yet eligible for the CT Programme, what can I do now that would help me later?
If you have not yet met the eligibility criteria you can undertake some preparatory work. You should study the Standard for Chartered Teacher – http://www.gtcs.org.uk/standards/standard-chartered-teacher.aspx – and think about where you have strengths and where you might have development needs in respect of the requirements of the Standard. You should also establish and maintain a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Portfolio recording your CPD experience and learning.
Will staff in rural or small schools be able to participate in the programme?
Delivery of our Chartered Teacher programme is designed to be flexible and responsive to candidate needs and circumstances. The programme can be accessed completely in an e-learning mode. Our e-portfolio allows candidates to access all materials and communicate with others and with their tutor. Seminars are organized in central venues and candidates are encouraged to attend. Where this is not possible tutors offer briefing and support by telephone and e-mail.
How long is the course?
The full Chartered Teacher programme contains the equivalent of 12 modules. Our programme is structured as Unit 1 (two modules); Unit 2 (6 modules); and Unit 3 (4 modules). Each module is designed to require 150 hours of ‘notional learner effort’. But the actual amount of time taken by candidates to complete a module does vary considerably. For the overall programme there was a general assumption that participants might undertake the equivalent of two modules per year. On this basis from start to finish the programme would take up to six years to complete. A number of candidates are able to overtake four modules a year – Unit 3 for example is a Work-based project that typically takes a full academic year.
How much will it cost me?
Details of our programme fees and payment plans can be found on the how to apply page.
I still have questions, who can I ask?
If you have questions about Chartered Teacher in general, contact GTC Scotland.
We have set up an exclusive Chartered Teacher Helpline to provide you with a friendly contact point to answer any questions you may have about your entry on to our Chartered Teacher Programme.
You can email us at: enquiries@charteredteacher.co.uk or you can telephone the helpline on: 0131 467 4542 (Mon-Fri, 09.30-16.30)
Additionally, if you would like us to contact you with new information about the Chartered Teacher Programme as soon as it becomes available then please email us with your contact details.
Standard for Chartered Teacher
The Scottish Executive Education Department published the Standard for Chartered Teacher on Friday 6 December 2002. The Standard can be downloaded at: http://www.gtcs.org.uk/standards/standard-chartered-teacher.aspx
