Tag Archive for association of chartered teachers scotland

ACTS Winter Conference 2011

16/02/2011 acts, cfe, change, MEd, reflection One comment

The timing of this year’s ACTS Winter Conference was very interesting. Given the recent publication of the Donaldson Report, the ongoing negotiations of the SNCT and the launch of the McCormac review there is a lot for Chartered Teachers, and aspiring Chartered Teachers such as myself, to talk about. The ACTS committee had done very well indeed to arrange for Graham Donaldson himself to keynote the conference as well as the ever inspiring (real) David Cameron. I also attended Frank Crawford’s excellent workshop on managing change.

Whilst most of the messages from the day were inspiring and encouraging for someone like myself who is working hard on the route to Chartered Teacher Status, it was frustrating that despite all of these positive messages there is an ever looming gloomy backdrop to the future of the programme. It is clear from the conference that there is a consensus that the attributes outlined in the standard for Chartered Teacher are the right ones for the future of Scotland’s (and indeed the world’s) teaching profession. There was also a common theme of these attributes needing to be espoused by the entire profession, not just a minority who are financially rewarded for doing so. I understand and share this point of view. The big question however for me is, how do we get there?

Could we get there by growing on the successes of the Chartered Teacher programme and developing it for the future? Could McCormac work with the GTCS, Universities and ACTS to develop a long-term programme for transition to this ideal? Could we capture the enhanced capacity of those teachers and lecturers who have undertaken and led the programmes and use them to help spread this enhanced professionalism until it is no longer seen as enhanced?

Or shall we stop those who want to become enhanced practitioners from getting involved? Shall we prevent those who have already invested significant portions of their own time and money from completing what they’ve started? Shall we remove the goodwill and enthusiasm from those who were willing to be pioneers in this laudable movement? Shall we strip out the growing capacity in the schools and the Universities to support the development of a 21st Century teaching profession for Scotland? Shall we limit the professional development of today’s teachers to the detriment of today’s, as well as tomorrow’s, learners?

Unfortunately it would appear that we’ve opted for the latter…

ACTS Launch

25/03/2009 acts No comments

Although I’m not yet a member, I decided to go along to the official launch of the Association of Chartered Teachers at the Scottish Parliament last Saturday. I’d never before tried twittering during something like this so I decided to have a wee go. You can therefore see my live thoughts on the event below (in reverse chronological order):

I actually left early as I wasn’t feeling very well and I was worried my coughing fits would drown out the talented musicians, but I was impressed with what I saw. Impressed enough to get my name down at the membership desk.

The Minister genuinely sounded very informed, interested and supportive of the concept of Chartered Teachers. She did make the point that after five years it was necessary to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of the programme, which is a fair point and one which I think most CT’s would agree with. However, cynics would probably take this to mean that CT’s need to be pre-approved by SMT and have a new job description – I suppose we’ll have to wait and see. At least there is now an Association formed to argue the case on behalf of the CT community!

An actual CT spoke also – Clare Bryden. I thought she spoke very well on behalf of CT’s and was impressed that she had scoured the web beforehand to ensure she was making the points that would be shared by those she was representing. I was especially pleased that she specifically addressed the notion that CT’s would vanish into their classrooms and take the pay rise for nothing. Given the nature of the CT programme this is nonsensical, and she did a great job of pointing that out.

I left after Clare spoke, so I need to catch up on the rest of the event. Luckily, David was broadcasting and recording it all via flashmeeting. You can catch up on the event by clicking on the image below: