Original request
Summary of request
Full request
Please confirm how many Fitness to Teach Panel Hearings have been held with regard to allegations not admitted by teachers since 1 November 2023. Please only include information on teacher referrals raised since 1 January 2021. When providing this information please provide the following information -
- Total number of panel hearings held since 1 November 2023 in relation to allegations not admitted by teachers for referrals raised since 1 January 2021 (not before this date)
- Number of panel hearings split into 2 for the above line, i.e., how many panel hearings since the 1 November 2023 were the first panel hearing for the registered teacher and how many were not, i.e., a second or third hearing etc.
- Number of the above panel hearings since 1 November 2023 involving an evidential hearing, i.e., teachers and witnesses being present with evidence being tested and how many were not
For example, there might have been 10 panel hearings held since 1 November 2023 which related to teachers denying allegations made against them since 1 January 2021. 5 of these were the first panel hearings and 5 were not. 4 of the panel hearings were evidential hearings whereas 6 were not.
If allegations against a teacher have been proven to the required standard at a panel hearing prior to the 1 November 2023 please exclude this from the above numbers. I am only interested in teacher referrals which remain contested re the allegations against them as at the 1 November 2023.
Response
I refer to your request for information dated 15 November 2024 (FOI 24- 25/64) regarding Fitness to Teach matters which we have handled under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FOISA).
We have collected information as per your request and provide it below. You clarified that this request should only “include information on teacher referrals raised since 1 January 2021.”
Firstly, you asked for the total “number of panel hearings since 1 November 2023 in relation to allegations not admitted by teachers for referrals raised since 1 January 2021.” Please note that we have interpreted your request to be for conduct referrals as these involve ‘allegations’. A total of 7 panel hearings have been held since 1 November 2023 in relation to allegations not admitted for referrals raised since 1 January 2021.
Secondly, you asked how many “were the first panel hearing” and “how many were not”. Of the 7 conduct hearings referenced above, 7 were the “first hearing” in relation to that case.
Thirdly, you asked how many of these panel hearings since 1 November 2023 involved “an evidential hearing, i.e., teachers and witnesses being present with evidence being tested and how many were not”. Of the 7 conduct hearings referenced above, one involved participants giving evidence.
You may contact informationgovernance@gtcs.org.uk if you are dissatisfied with this response, 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 do so.
Response file
Internal Review request
Summary of request
