GTCS Standards

Professional Standards 2021

The Refreshed and restructured Professional Standards were enacted on 2 August 2021.

The Professional Standards for Teachers were first established in 2000. The discussion to review the 2012 Professional Standards began in 2017 with teachers across Scotland actively engaged in shaping the Professional Standards 2021.

Exploring the Standards

We would encourage colleagues to take time to look at the advice on engaging, exploring and using the standards, as offered by GTCS: Explore the Professional Standards - The General Teaching Council for Scotland (gtcs.org.uk)

You can choose how to display the Standards you decide to use:

● One choice is to view a single Standard or view two Standards side-by-side. The side-by-side view could be useful if you feel that you are in transition from one Standard to another, or if you aspire to work at a new Standard or apply for a new post. professional-standards-side-by-side-comparison.pdf (gtcs.org.uk)

● A second choice is whether to view a whole Standard or, in discussion with your line manager, to focus only on certain themes in a particular year. You can choose as many themes as you like in any combination. https://www.gtcs.org.uk/professional-standards/tools-to-support-self-evaluation/

Self Evaluation

Self-evaluation using the GTC Scotland Standards is an integral part of the Professional Update process for all teachers. Further guidance on the value of self evaluation and possible tools that can be used can be found at: Tools to support self-evaluation - The General Teaching Council for Scotland (gtcs.org.uk)