24-25/19

I refer to your request for information dated 7 July 2024 (FOI 24 - 25/19) in which you asked for information regarding various named individuals under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FOISA).

Specifically, you asked if a named school ever contacted “GTCS to ask for guidance as to how to deal with abuse (sexual, physical or emotional)" regarding named individuals.

I can confirm that after a digital search for records related to the named individuals, we do not hold any records relating to your request for instances of guidance as per the scope of your request and I have therefore applied section 17(1)(b) as this information is not held.

For context, please note that GTC Scotland is an independent, statutory body. Its core function is to keep a register of teachers and set and regulate the standards of conduct and competence expected of its Registrants through a fitness to teach process. GTC Scotland is a professional regulator and not on the frontline of child and public protection, as such, it does not deliver education or provide services to children and families. You can find out more about our role in child protection and our calls for improvements in our recent response to the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee and our response to calls for improvements to the regulatory system at the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

If you are dissatisfied with this response, you may contact informationgovernance@gtcs.org.uk to request GTC Scotland conduct a review of it. You should describe the original request and explain your grounds of review. You have 40 working days from receipt of this response 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.