It was set up in 1965 under the Teaching Council (Scotland) Act 1965 following concerns that entry requirements had lowered after the Second World War and unqualified teachers were working in Scottish schools.
[5] Its powers, remits and duties have since been amended by other legislation, including the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998[6] and the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc.
[22][23] The GTC Scotland response stated: "...there is no evidence-based rationale for replacing GTCS, with its strong brand and highly-regarded national and international reputation, with a new body".
GTC Scotland said it would continue to work closely with Scottish Government "to consider how a wider range of educational professionals most directly involved in teaching might be registered with GTCS".
[25] The EIS said it had "vehemently opposed" the proposal to abolish GTC Scotland and welcomed "the fact that the Scottish Government has listened to the voice of the teaching profession on this very important issue".
[36] GTC Scotland is governed by a Council made up of 19 elected teachers, 11 nominated educational stakeholder representatives and 7 appointed lay members, who make decisions on matters of strategy and policy.
Council membership is determined following a rolling programme: election, nomination and appointments processes take place every two years and half of the members step down at the end of each two-year period.
[38] GTC Scotland performs a number of functions to support and inform the teaching profession and the wider public about Scottish education.
The Lecture has previously been given by Annie Lennox, Lord David Puttnam, Christopher Brookmyre, Baroness Warnock and Sir Harry Burns amongst others.