How registration categories impact what employees can teach
Registration category informs employment
In 2020, the Court of Session clarified GTC Scotland’s long held position that a teacher must be employed in a role that aligns with their registration category.
Our four registration categories are:
- Primary Education
- Secondary (Subject) Education
- Additional Support Needs
- Further Education
For more information on Additional Support Needs registration please refer to the Registration in the category of Additional Support Needs article.
The court confirmed that registration categories matter and that there is a requirement to employ teachers only in accordance with the particulars of their registration. That means registration with GTC Scotland alone is not enough. As registration category reflects the qualifications that teachers hold, it is also registration category that must guide employment.
Registration categories are about the education that is being provided rather than the school or institution. Primary Education registration means working within the broad and general curriculum and Secondary (Subject) Education registration can include specialist subject education for younger learners where this is assessed to be appropriate.
Once employers have confirmed that a teacher’s registration category aligns to the role, it is for the employer to go on further to assess if the teacher has the appropriate knowledge and professional skills to undertake the teaching duties allocated to that role.
Our Search the Register tool can be used to check the registration category and status of all registered teachers.
GTC Scotland registration confirms that a teacher has the qualifications aligned to a category of education. We can tell you about a teacher's registration, but it is for employers to assess a teacher’s suitability for a role and the specific teaching duties allocated to it.
Frequently asked questions
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Possibly, with careful consideration.
Registered teachers in Primary Education are qualified to teach all age groups in all curricular areas from early learning and childcare to primary 7. Registered Primary Education teachers may also be in a position to teach literacy, numeracy, and health and wellbeing across the spectrum of the Broad General Education if an employer assesses the individual as being suitable for those teaching duties.
Where consideration is being given to deploying a registered teacher of Primary Education in a secondary school context we strongly advise employers to consider supporting an individual teacher to achieve Secondary Subject Education registration through our Professional (Additional) Registration pathway.
Learn more about Professional (Additional) registration.
It is essential that teachers are qualified for what they are teaching and fully registered teachers can achieve additional categories of registration while in employment.
Possibly, with careful consideration.
Registered teachers in Secondary education are qualified to teach their subject and literacy, numeracy, and health and wellbeing in S1 to S6 age groups. Registered Secondary teachers may also be in a position to teach their subject with younger learners if an employer assesses the individual as being suitable for those teaching duties.
A teacher with only Secondary (Subject) Education registration cannot teach the primary curriculum. They can teach their specialist subject in the primary school context with appropriate support. Where a Secondary (Subject) Education teacher wishes to teach Primary Education they should follow our Professional (Additional) Registration process.
Learn more about Professional (Additional) registration.
It is essential that teachers are qualified for what they are teaching and fully registered teachers can achieve additional categories of registration while in employment.
No. Registration in Further Education means the individual is registered to teach in Colleges/Further Education. The teaching qualification requirements for college lecturers are different to Secondary (Subject) Education teachers. Where this extends to engagement with secondary schools this should be part of agreed school and college partnership arrangements.
No, the teacher requires to be registered in subject B. Professional (Additional) Registration is a way for teachers who hold Full Registration in a Secondary education subject to add additional subjects to their registration.
Teachers require to be qualified in the secondary subjects they teach. There are routes available for fully registered teachers to achieve provisional registration in an additional subject where they hold the academic requirements and provisional conditional registration where they hold some of the academic requirements. These routes should be explored in supporting teachers to gain further categories of registration. Teachers being qualified in the subjects they teach is central to trusted teaching in the public interest.
Learn more about Professional (Additional) registration.