1

Towards a new member-led College of Teaching

www.claimyourcollege.org.uk

2

What would be in it for teachers?The Claim Your College proposal suggests the following

although the members ultimately decide what this body will do for them

Professional Development

Better access to high quality professional

development and learning

A respected portfolio to show

professional impact

Guidance from a College Mentor

Recognised by Schools

Schools committing to access to professional learning and accreditation

Schools committing to sector-led

standards, peer-to-peer review

Professional Knowledge

Pooling knowledge of the best way to

help pupils succeed

Drawing upon academic research

and making this available to

professionals

Contributing to a growing knowledge

base to help all professionals

Professional Standards

Respected standards with

validity and portability

Accreditation against sector-led

standards

Career development opportunities

3

The College must be:

• Independent• Voluntary• The arbiter of the highest standards of evidence-

informed practice• Run by teachers for the ultimate benefit of learners• Subject to a governance model that ensures no

single interest group can dominate• Trusted to act as an informed and single voice to

represent the profession in debates on policy and practice

4

The College will benefit members by offering:• Professional standards. Members will be accredited against valid, portable,

respected, sector-led standards; these will provide opportunities for career development, confer status and inspire respect

• Professional development. The College will provide a career pathway that informs access to high-quality professional development and learning, and enable its members to build a validated portfolio documenting professional impact supported by a College Mentor

• Professional knowledge. The College will provide access to a quality assured professional knowledge base, drawing from academic research and teachers’ judgement of the best ways to help children succeed in specific contexts

• Recognition by schools. Organisational affiliation will demonstrate a school’s commitment to providing access to professional learning and accreditation, including peer-to-peer review

• A common code of practice which reflects aspirational standards of teaching, an evidence-informed approach to practice, ethical behaviour, promotion of the profession and the best possible opportunities for learners.

5

How will it differ from the GTC?• Although they are interested to support, College of

Teaching is NOT a government initiative and will be independent• Membership will be voluntary• It will be governed by its members to support them in

raising standards of professional practice• The organisation will focus on aspiration, development

and recognition, not regulation and striking-off• It will provide a point of stability through changes in

policy and fashion.

6

Common questions (i)• How does the new College relate to the existing

College of Teachers?The existing college holds the Royal Charter for teachers’ professional development. It is committed to being completely transformed through broad, inclusive partnership, into the new college. • It is using the powers of its Royal Charter to give

the highest level of authority and legitimacy to the process of transformation, and to the work being undertaken by partners, and will lead the process of getting a new Royal Charter for the new college.

7

Common questions (ii)

• Why do some people refer to a ‘Royal College of Teaching’?Initial discussions referred to this name but applying to use the word ‘Royal’ in the title is a separate process from getting a new Royal Charter. It would be up to members of the future College whether to request this name, the granting of which is strictly controlled by Royal Prerogative.

8

Common questions (iii)

• How much would membership cost?This depends on the take-up and costs in the early years of the College, but initial models and estimates are around £70 per year at entry level, rising for (chartered)Fellows to around £150.• Who is funding the start-up costs?

The plan is to approach a large number of funders to provide start-up support, including prospective members. Eventually the college would be funded through professional membership subscriptions.

9

Where are we now?• The initial consultations, facilitated by the Prince’s Teaching

Institute brought hundreds of teachers together with unions, subject associations, and dozens of other influential bodies that support teachers• The grass-roots campaign to build a new College

(#claimyourcollege) has been supported to date by the existing College of Teachers, the Prince’s Teaching Institute, the Teacher Development Trust and the SSAT• Critically we need to harness the support of teachers, school

leaders and organisations to join the campaign• A proposal has been developed in response to the DfE call for

expressions of interest in Dec 2014• Consultation and communications on that proposal continue

with the wider profession.

10

What can you do?• Hold an event in your school to get people talking

and raise awareness• Critically we need to harness the support of

teachers, school leaders and organisations to join the campaign• Register your interest and keep up with latest

developments at www.claimyourcollege.org• Join in on Twitter using #claimyourcollege

11

Towards a new member-led College of Teaching

www.claimyourcollege.org