Advice for Flexible Route registrants completing probation outside Scotland
From 1 August 2023, the Flexible Route is changing.
This will mean changes to the requirements for both new and existing provisionally registered teachers and for teachers who are adding a subject or sector to their existing GTC Scotland registration. Advice for them, and the headteachers and senior leaders who support them, is available below.
Finalised arrangements for the implementation of the policy will be published here in due course.
Read the refreshed Provisional Registration and Probationer Service policy
New provisionally registered teachers(qualified in Scotland)
The guidance below applies for provisionally registered teachers who:
- qualified in Scotland and
- are completing their probation outside Scotland
Flexible Route profile
When we award you Provisional Registration, we will give you access to an online Flexible Route profile.
This is where you will record:
- the minimum 190 days service required to meet the Standard for Full Registration.
- other profile requirements.
Headteacher or senior leader recommendation
Once you have completed your profile, you must request a recommendation by a headteacher or senior leader with current Full (General) Registration with GTC Scotland.
This headteacher must have:
- made at least one formal observation of your teaching practice and
- had a professional discussion with you to complete your final Key Strengths, Areas for Development and Professional Action Plan.
You must have been employed at the school of the headteacher or senior leader making the recommendation. There are no minimum days required, but we advise that an observation is completed after the equivalent of a period of 20 days working in your endorsing headteacher or senior leader’s school. This is to ensure that they can make an informed decision when endorsing you.
Once you have completed your profile requirements, you will need to engage with a headteacher or senior leader with current Full (General) Registration with GTC Scotland. They do not need to be working in Scotland, but they do need to professionally endorse your ability to meet the Standard for Full Registration.
The headteacher or senior leader needs to complete a declaration on your profile to confirm that they recommend you being awarded the Standard for Full Registration. Once they have recommended you, you must submit your completed profile to us.
If you do not have a GTC Scotland registered headteacher or senior leader, please contact us.
Timescale for completion
You have 3 years from the date of Provisional Registration to meet the Standard for Full Registration.
Requirements for teaching service
You must complete a minimum of 55% of your days in your category and sector of registration. A maximum of 45% of your probation service can be completed in any other category, for example, Additional Support Needs.
New provisionally registered teachers(qualified outside Scotland)
The guidance below applies for provisionally registered teachers who:
- qualified outside Scotland and have been granted Provisional (Conditional) Registration
- have a specified number of days to complete and will be starting the Flexible Route outside Scotland after 1 August 2023
Flexible Route profile
When we award you Provisional Registration, we will ask you to complete a document-based Flexible Route profile.
These documents are where you will record:
- the minimum 190 days service required to meet the Standard for Full Registration.
- other profile requirements
Headteacher or senior leader recommendation
Once you have completed your profile, you must request a recommendation by a headteacher or senior leader with current Full (General) Registration with GTC Scotland.
This headteacher must have:
- made at least one formal observation of your teaching practice and
- had a professional discussion with you to complete your final Key Strengths, Areas for Development and Professional Action Plan.
You must have been employed at the school of the headteacher or senior leader making the recommendation. There are no minimum days required, but we advise that an observation is completed after the equivalent of a period of 20 days working in your recommendation headteacher or senior leader’s school. This is to ensure that they can make an informed decision when endorsing you.
Once you have completed your profile requirements, you will need to engage with a headteacher or senior leader with current Full (General) Registration with GTC Scotland. They do not need to be working in Scotland, but they do need to professionally endorse your ability to meet the Standard for Full Registration.
The headteacher or senior leader needs to complete a declaration on your profile to confirm that they recommend you being awarded the Standard for Full Registration. Once they have recommended you, you must submit your completed profile to us.
If you do not have a GTC Scotland registered headteacher or senior leader, please contact us.
Timescale for completion
You have 3 years from the date of Provisional Registration to meet the Standard for Full Registration.
Requirements for teaching service
You must complete a minimum of 55% of your days in your subject and category of registration. A maximum of 45% of your probation service can be completed in any other category, for example, Additional Support Needs.