Themes emerging from comments

Each of the multiple-choice questions had an accompanying text box to allow respondents to leave written feedback to support their answer.

Two themes emerged. One was based on a misunderstanding of GTC Scotland’s role and remit and was about GTC Scotland not doing more to improve working conditions and employment matters. Topics included:

• job insecurity and a lack of jobs or no permanent contracts, meaning some people lack financial security or feel that they are paying for something they are unable to do
• an increasing workload - class contact time was also mentioned as a factor impacting workload
• increase of learners with additional support needs and the lack of support available, especially with growing class sizes
• violence in schools
• being treated badly in schools by management

Another theme was dissatisfaction with the role and work of GTC Scotland including:

• what the registration fee pays for
• a perception that we do not impact the day-to-day work of teachers, and that paying the fee is a ‘tax’ on teachers
• recurring technical issues with MyGTCS
• the bureaucracy of Professional Update and it being a ‘tick-box exercise’
• the lack of support for those failing to meet standards in schools
• being referred back to the employer when they come to us with an issue, because it does not meet our referral requirements or is outwith our remit
• a perceived reduction in services provided the ability to get in touch with us, including time taken to answer emails or the inability to speak to someone on the phone
• refusing to pay the fee for some of the reasons stated above. One comment mentioned a Facebook group of teachers who were “discussing blanket refusal on payments”