Presentation to Teacher Education Students about the Teaching Council and the process of registration (including Garda vetting)

What’s this presentation about? Professionally-led Regulation Role and Functions of the Teaching Council The NQT Registration Process Question and Answer Session

What is a Regulated Profession? A regulated profession is responsible for Entry standards and qualifications required to practice Knowledge skills and competence required Ethical standards and rules of conduct Policing its own ranks Hallmarks of a profession – skills, integrity, trust Professional bodies are accountable to the public and are responsible for the standing of the profession as a whole Professional bodies have different functions to unions

Background International trends towards professional and occupational regulation Teachers, Unions, Parents, Management bodies, and others have looked for the establishment of a self-regulating body for teaching in Ireland for over 40 years. Why? Ownership of the profession in the profession; maintain and enhance public trust

About Us Set up and governed by Teaching Council Act, 2001 Established on 28 March, 2006 37 members 22 Teachers 4 from Colleges, 4 School management 2 Parents Associations, 5 Ministerial nominees Committee Structure Registration, Education, Finance, Executive, Audit, Investigating & Disciplinary

Statutory Functions Other Functions Pre-Registration Registration Standards of Entry Teacher Education Programmes Registration Recognition of Qualifications Register of Teachers Post-Registration Induction Probation Codes of Conduct CPD* Fitness to* Practice Other Functions Research Advising the Minister Representing the Teaching Profession Cooperating with GTCNI Statutory Functions

Teacher Education Review & Accreditation of Programmes of Teacher Education Developing a Policy on the Continuum of Teacher Education Initial Teacher Education Induction Continuing Professional Development

Registration Requirements Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations Introduced in November 2009 Superseded previous arrangements NFQ Level 8 profession required from April 2013 – all sectors… Teaching qualification required from April 2013 – all sectors… Register of Teachers Established 79,000 currently registered (Nov. 2012) Almost 4,000 NQTs added each year

Registration Full registration Conditional registration when all registration requirements have been met Conditional registration where one or more registration requirements have not been met but the applicant is allowed onto the Register providing they remedy the shortfall within a specified period Teaching Service Conditions Induction, Probation or Post Qualification Employment (PQE) Qualification Conditions (generally applied to those who qualify outside of Ireland) Irish Language Requirement (primary), History and Structure of Irish Education System (post-primary)

Condition of Induction Induction takes place during that critical period at the beginning of the newly qualified teacher’s career The Out of School Workshop Programme now mandatory for all NQTS For further details: www.teacherinduction.ie

Condition of Probation (Primary) All newly qualified primary teachers are registered with this condition Service requirement – Minimum 100 days (2 x 50 or 1 x 100) teaching service (post qualification) Professional Competence Requirement - satisfactory report from the Inspectorate Form C - when the requirements have been met, the teacher completes and returns Form C to the Council. Condition is removed when proof of Service and Competence requirements is received by the Council (i.e. Form C)

Post Qualification Employment (PQE) (Post-Primary) All newly qualified post-primary teachers are registered with this condition Service - proof of minimum 300 hours teaching service Form B – must be completed by the teacher and countersigned by the School Principal for each period of teaching service Condition is removed when proof of 300 hours service is received by the Council (i.e. Form B) Timeframe extensions may be granted in extenuating circumstances The requirements of PQE can be met abroad

Registration and Subjects (Post-Primary) Subjects are determined at the time of registration based on degree transcripts meeting subject criteria – Not the ‘Autoquals’ list. In most subjects the Council is seeking to establish that there is a minimum 54 ECTS Credits coverage of a curricular subject in the degree. Applicants can take further subject modules to make up for any shortfalls that exist in the coverage of the subject in their degree.

Registration Timeline for NQTs Today Complete the pink Consent Form and return it as per instructions given today Allows your college to send us your details and results Within the next month Complete the blue Garda Vetting Form and post it to the Council ASAP. Complete the yellow Character Reference Form and retain July 2013 (when you have passed your exams) Teaching Council will invite you to register by sending you the NQT Registration Application Form August 2013 Expect confirmation of becoming a Registered Teacher – congratulations! With your Registration Number and Garda Vetting completed, you can be employed as a Registered Teacher.

Remember… Pink Consent Form - return it as per instructions given today Character Reference Form – complete it ASAP and retain safely for submission with your NQT Registration Application Form Vetting Application Form – complete it ASAP and send it to the Teaching Council.

Requirement to be registered and vetted for employment Section 30 – The requirement to be registered Circulars of the Department of Education and Skills

Block A, Maynooth Business Campus, Maynooth, Co. Kildare Contact Details www.teachingcouncil.ie info@teachingcouncil.ie vetting@teachingcouncil.ie @TeachingCouncil LoCall: 1890 224 224 T: 01- 651 7900 The Teaching Council, Block A, Maynooth Business Campus, Maynooth, Co. Kildare