Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association

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Commenting on the ‘Future of Teaching Employment’ statement by Michael Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, SSTA General Secretary Ann Ballinger said:

"This decision to end the Chartered Teacher Scheme devalues both the professionalism of teachers and the merits of teaching as a career choice. There is now no route for the experienced professional to develop his or her career and remain in the classroom. It also suggests that this decision is driven by the financial demands of Local Authorities. The Chartered Teacher Scheme which was set up to enable excellent practitioners to remain in the classroom has recently undergone a review. This review focused the emphasis of the qualification firmly on proven excellence in the classroom and addressed the very minor criticisms of the initial scheme. There has been a total failure to even attempt to evaluate these changes. Chartered Teachers have shown an extraordinary commitment to education, using their own time and resources to develop skills and expertise which benefit their pupils and the wider school community. Chartered Teacher was also one of the few remaining areas of career development for teachers in Scotland. Read more