How do I make a complaint about a registered teacher?
In the first instance, you should contact the school principal of the teacher in question and use the school’s complaints policy.
If you require further guidance you can also contact the employing authority, e.g. a school governing body, CCMS or Education Authority.
If you believe the matter is a child welfare/protection issue you can go directly to the PSNI or social services.
If you require further guidance you can also contact the employing authority, e.g. a school governing body, CCMS or Education Authority.
If you believe the matter is a child welfare/protection issue you can go directly to the PSNI or social services.
How does Regulation work?
There are four main stages involved in regulation:Referral where an allegation, complaint or referral is received by GTCNI.Screening to establish if the referral falls within our statutory remit and if any relevant employer processes have been completed.Investigation where an Investigating Committee, drawn from the membership of our Regulatory Panel, will look at the available evidence and a written response from the teacher concerned and decide if a teacher has a case to answer.A Conduct hearing where a Conduct Committee, drawn from the membership of our Regulatory Panel, will hear all of the facts relating to the case and make a decision about the allegation and whether a teacher should be removed from the Register. The teacher concerned has a right to make representations.If an allegation of misconduct is proven or a teacher is convicted of a relevant criminal offence, and a Conduct Committee finds that the behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with being a teacher, the only sanction available to GTCNI is removal from the Register.
What is the difference between the role of an employer and GTCNI?
The employer (or employing authority) will be a school Board of Governors or body such as the Education Authority or CCMS. They are required to deal with any allegation of misconduct using the agreed disciplinary process as set out in the ‘Disciplinary Procedure for Teachers including Principals and Vice–Principals in Grant–Aided Schools with fully delegated Budgets’ (TNC 2016/2).
The employer also has a duty to notify GTCNI about any teacher who is dismissed, or resigns prior to dismissal, on the grounds of misconduct; and to provide GTCNI with the information it needs to carry out an investigation or any subsequent conduct hearing.
GTCNI has a duty to ensure that a registered teacher is suitable to be a member of the teaching profession in Northern Ireland. GTCNI also has a responsibility to investigate referrals and to remove a teacher from the GTCNI Register if misconduct is proven at a conduct hearing.
The employer also has a duty to notify GTCNI about any teacher who is dismissed, or resigns prior to dismissal, on the grounds of misconduct; and to provide GTCNI with the information it needs to carry out an investigation or any subsequent conduct hearing.
GTCNI has a duty to ensure that a registered teacher is suitable to be a member of the teaching profession in Northern Ireland. GTCNI also has a responsibility to investigate referrals and to remove a teacher from the GTCNI Register if misconduct is proven at a conduct hearing.
What is the GTCNI?
The General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) is a statutory, self–regulatory professional body, established by the Education (NI) Order 1998. GTCNI is dedicated to enhancing the status of teaching and promoting the highest standards of professional conduct and practice. It will work in partnership to develop and sustain a broad “professional community” characterised by a culture of respect, integrity, cooperation and dialogue.GTCNI’s core objectives are:To build a broad “professional community” and enhance the status of teaching as a profession.
To provide an independent and authoritative voice for the profession on matters pertaining to teaching.
To promote and maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and practice in collaboration with key partners.
What power does GTCNI have to regulate?
GTCNI was established by the Education (NI) Order 1998 to provide a range of functions including maintaining a Register of teachers, regulating the teaching profession and providing advice to DE and employers about important professional issues including registration and professional standards.
The General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (Registration of Teachers) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 gives GTCNI the power to remove a teacher from the Register on the grounds of misconduct. This legislation also means individual teachers can make representations to GTCNI and that any teacher, who has been removed from the Register, has the right of appeal to the High Court.
The General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (Registration of Teachers) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 gives GTCNI the power to remove a teacher from the Register on the grounds of misconduct. This legislation also means individual teachers can make representations to GTCNI and that any teacher, who has been removed from the Register, has the right of appeal to the High Court.
What rights does a teacher have?
GTCNI will carry out an initial screening assessment to ensure that any complaint or allegation falls within our statutory remit and will only consider an allegation that relates to misconduct or conviction of a relevant criminal offence.
We will ensure that any teacher about whom an allegation has been made is fully informed at every step of the process.
A teacher has the right to provide written information to the Investigating Committee and to make a representation at a Conduct Committee hearing, which may include trade union or legal representation.
A decision made by a Conduct Committee to remove a teacher from the Register can be appealed to the High Court within 28 days from the date on which the decision is made.
We will ensure that any teacher about whom an allegation has been made is fully informed at every step of the process.
A teacher has the right to provide written information to the Investigating Committee and to make a representation at a Conduct Committee hearing, which may include trade union or legal representation.
A decision made by a Conduct Committee to remove a teacher from the Register can be appealed to the High Court within 28 days from the date on which the decision is made.
Who is responsible for the regulation of supply teachers?
GTCNI is responsible for the regulation of all teachers in Northern Ireland that fall within its statutory remit, this includes supply teachers.It is the responsibility of the employer to deal with any allegation of misconduct using the agreed disciplinary process as set out in the ‘Disciplinary Procedure for Teachers including Principals and Vice–Principals in Grant–Aided Schools with fully delegated Budgets’ (TNC 2016/2). This includes supply teachers.
How do I make a complaint about a registered teacher?
In the first instance, you should contact the school principal of the teacher in question and use the school’s complaints policy.
If you require further guidance you can also contact the employing authority, e.g. a school governing body, CCMS or Education Authority.
If you believe the matter is a child welfare/protection issue you can go directly to the PSNI or social services.
If you require further guidance you can also contact the employing authority, e.g. a school governing body, CCMS or Education Authority.
If you believe the matter is a child welfare/protection issue you can go directly to the PSNI or social services.
How does Regulation work?
There are four main stages involved in regulation:Referral where an allegation, complaint or referral is received by GTCNI.Screening to establish if the referral falls within our statutory remit and if any relevant employer processes have been completed.Investigation where an Investigating Committee, drawn from the membership of our Regulatory Panel, will look at the available evidence and a written response from the teacher concerned and decide if a teacher has a case to answer.A Conduct hearing where a Conduct Committee, drawn from the membership of our Regulatory Panel, will hear all of the facts relating to the case and make a decision about the allegation and whether a teacher should be removed from the Register. The teacher concerned has a right to make representations.If an allegation of misconduct is proven or a teacher is convicted of a relevant criminal offence, and a Conduct Committee finds that the behaviour is fundamentally incompatible with being a teacher, the only sanction available to GTCNI is removal from the Register.
What is the difference between the role of an employer and GTCNI?
The employer (or employing authority) will be a school Board of Governors or body such as the Education Authority or CCMS. They are required to deal with any allegation of misconduct using the agreed disciplinary process as set out in the ‘Disciplinary Procedure for Teachers including Principals and Vice–Principals in Grant–Aided Schools with fully delegated Budgets’ (TNC 2016/2).
The employer also has a duty to notify GTCNI about any teacher who is dismissed, or resigns prior to dismissal, on the grounds of misconduct; and to provide GTCNI with the information it needs to carry out an investigation or any subsequent conduct hearing.
GTCNI has a duty to ensure that a registered teacher is suitable to be a member of the teaching profession in Northern Ireland. GTCNI also has a responsibility to investigate referrals and to remove a teacher from the GTCNI Register if misconduct is proven at a conduct hearing.
The employer also has a duty to notify GTCNI about any teacher who is dismissed, or resigns prior to dismissal, on the grounds of misconduct; and to provide GTCNI with the information it needs to carry out an investigation or any subsequent conduct hearing.
GTCNI has a duty to ensure that a registered teacher is suitable to be a member of the teaching profession in Northern Ireland. GTCNI also has a responsibility to investigate referrals and to remove a teacher from the GTCNI Register if misconduct is proven at a conduct hearing.
What power does GTCNI have to regulate?
GTCNI was established by the Education (NI) Order 1998 to provide a range of functions including maintaining a Register of teachers, regulating the teaching profession and providing advice to DE and employers about important professional issues including registration and professional standards.
The General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (Registration of Teachers) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 gives GTCNI the power to remove a teacher from the Register on the grounds of misconduct. This legislation also means individual teachers can make representations to GTCNI and that any teacher, who has been removed from the Register, has the right of appeal to the High Court.
The General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (Registration of Teachers) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 gives GTCNI the power to remove a teacher from the Register on the grounds of misconduct. This legislation also means individual teachers can make representations to GTCNI and that any teacher, who has been removed from the Register, has the right of appeal to the High Court.
What rights does a teacher have?
GTCNI will carry out an initial screening assessment to ensure that any complaint or allegation falls within our statutory remit and will only consider an allegation that relates to misconduct or conviction of a relevant criminal offence.
We will ensure that any teacher about whom an allegation has been made is fully informed at every step of the process.
A teacher has the right to provide written information to the Investigating Committee and to make a representation at a Conduct Committee hearing, which may include trade union or legal representation.
A decision made by a Conduct Committee to remove a teacher from the Register can be appealed to the High Court within 28 days from the date on which the decision is made.
We will ensure that any teacher about whom an allegation has been made is fully informed at every step of the process.
A teacher has the right to provide written information to the Investigating Committee and to make a representation at a Conduct Committee hearing, which may include trade union or legal representation.
A decision made by a Conduct Committee to remove a teacher from the Register can be appealed to the High Court within 28 days from the date on which the decision is made.
Who is responsible for the regulation of supply teachers?
GTCNI is responsible for the regulation of all teachers in Northern Ireland that fall within its statutory remit, this includes supply teachers.It is the responsibility of the employer to deal with any allegation of misconduct using the agreed disciplinary process as set out in the ‘Disciplinary Procedure for Teachers including Principals and Vice–Principals in Grant–Aided Schools with fully delegated Budgets’ (TNC 2016/2). This includes supply teachers.
What is the GTCNI?
The General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) is a statutory, self–regulatory professional body, established by the Education (NI) Order 1998. GTCNI is dedicated to enhancing the status of teaching and promoting the highest standards of professional conduct and practice. It will work in partnership to develop and sustain a broad “professional community” characterised by a culture of respect, integrity, cooperation and dialogue.GTCNI’s core objectives are:To build a broad “professional community” and enhance the status of teaching as a profession.
To provide an independent and authoritative voice for the profession on matters pertaining to teaching.
To promote and maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and practice in collaboration with key partners.