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The General Teaching Councils

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In the 'Resources' section on the right-hand side of this page, you will find the NASUWT leaflet on the General Teaching Councils (GTCs), which provides information to members on the role and responsibilities of the GTCs.

This leaflet contains detailed information on the GTCs in the UK. It also outlines the NASUWT’s view of each GTC and provides advice to members on issues relating to the work of the GTCs. 

An updated leaflet outlining the new arrangements since the abolition of the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) will be published  once more information becomes available on the role and functions of the new Teaching Agency in England.

The Teaching Agency in England

The Teaching Agency (TA) is a new executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE) and was established in 2012. 

The TA’s function is to maintain the quality and status of the teaching profession in England by ensuring that cases of professional misconduct are fully investigated and that offending teachers are reprimanded accordingly or barred from teaching in cases of serious professional misconduct. The TA’s regulatory function extends to all teachers and instructors in maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, academies and free schools, sixth-form colleges, independent schools and relevant youth accommodation and children's homes in England.

From 1 April 2012, the Teaching Agency became the body responsible for the following activities in England:

  • The award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
  • The issue of induction certificates
  • Hearing induction appeals
  • The regulation of the teaching profession

There will be no requirement to register with the new Teaching Agency and no registration fee following the GTC's abolition.

Further information about the Teaching Agency can be found on the Department for Education website.