GTCNI will only consider an allegation against a registered teacher that is about misconduct or a conviction for a relevant offence, and only once all employer processes are completed and a teacher has been dismissed, or may have been had they not resigned.
We recognise that the vast majority of teachers are committed to maintaining the highest standards of professional ethics and conduct. However, in circumstances where a registered teacher’s conduct falls short of these standards and is dismissed by their employer or resigns prior to dismissal, GTCNI will investigate and, if necessary, remove them from the register. In this way, the teaching profession continues to enjoy public confidence, which underpins the profession’s status in society.
The GTCNI regulation process includes a number of stages, including:
Referral where a complaint or referral is received by GTCNI.
Screening stage to establish if the referral falls within our statutory remit and is capable of amounting to an allegation.
Investigation stage where an Investigating Panel, drawn from the membership of our Regulatory Panel, will look at the available evidence and written response from the teacher concerned and decide if there is a case to answer.
Conduct stage where a Conduct Panel, drawn from the membership of our Regulatory Panel, will hear evidence relating to the case and make a finding about the facts of an allegation and may recommend whether a teacher should be removed from the Register – and if so, how long before they can apply to be readmitted. The teacher concerned has a right to make representations.
Council stage where a sub–committee, drawn from the membership of the Council, will make a decision based on the recommendations of a Conduct Panel and may make an Order to remove a teacher from the Register.