23-24/88

I write with reference to your request for information (FOI 23-24 / 88) dated 9 February 2024 in which you asked for information on the number of Gaelic teachers currently on the GTC Scotland Register.We note that this request followed an original request (FOI 23-24/74) in which you asked for data about “the current state of the Modern Foreign Languages teacher pipeline for North and North-East Scotland." In that request, you clarified that you wanted both the number of individuals who met the Standard for Full Registration and the number of individuals allocated a placement through the Teacher Induction Scheme in certain subjects over the last five academic years. You further clarified you wanted statistics for the local authorities of Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Highland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland Islands.

For context, please note that where we use the word Registrant this refers to individuals on the Register of Teachers of the General Teaching Council for Scotland. Where we have referenced individuals allocated a placement through the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) this refers to those allocated a one-year placement upon graduating with a teaching qualification from one of Scotland’s Higher Education Institutions. TIS is a Scottish Government scheme which provides a guaranteed one year, full time placement to every eligible provisionally registered teacher from one of Scotland’s higher education institutes (HEIs). GTC Scotland is independent and administers some aspects of the TIS as a contracted service. Provisional Registrants can demonstrate that they meet the Standard for Full Registration through two routes - the Teacher Induction Scheme and the Flexible Route. We have only provided details on the TIS route below.

I have provided an answer to each of your queries in the tables below. Please note that the years referenced below are based on reporting which runs from approximately August to July of the following year.

Finally, please note that in Table 3 we have provided you with those Provisional Registrants who were allocated under the Teaching Induction Scheme but may not have started their allocated placement with one of the local authorities. This can be for various reasons such as deferrals due to a delay in completing their HEI programme or choosing to withdraw from TIS and follow the Flexible Route to meeting the Standard for Full Registration.

You will see that I have not provided the exact number where the number is fewer than five. This is because disclosing these low numbers could enable individuals to be identified. This would breach the data protection principles set out in data protection legislation. FOISA does not require us to provide this sort of information as it is exempt under section 38(1)(b).

Furthermore, you may note that we have not provided information on the number of Registrants who achieved the Standard for Full Registration in 2019/20 in Table 1. Please note this information is held in records which are password protected and are not currently accessible. We apologise for not being able to provide the full data set. This does not constitute an exemption, however, we wanted to provide an explanation as part of our duty to assist under section 15.

I hope this information is helpful. If you are dissatisfied with this response, you may contact informationgovernance@gtcs.org.uk to request GTCS conduct a review of this decision. You should describe the original request and explain your grounds of review. You have 40 working days from receipt of this decision to submit a review request. When the review process has been completed, if you are still dissatisfied, you may use the Scottish Information Commissioner`s guidance on making an appeal to make an appeal to the Commissioner.