MINUTES OF THE 31 ST MEETING OF THE GENERAL TEACHING COUNCIL FOR N.I., HELD ON THURSDAY 10 TH DECEMBER 2009 AT THE TOWER HOTEL, DERRY

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1 MINUTES OF THE 31 ST MEETING OF THE GENERAL TEACHING COUNCIL FOR N.I., HELD ON THURSDAY 10 TH DECEMBER 2009 AT THE TOWER HOTEL, DERRY Present Mrs Sally McKee (Chair) Dr Theo Laverty Ms Rosemary Barton Ms Daisy Mules Ms Dorothy Black Mr Alistair Orr Dr Jennifer Cornyn Mr John Pollock Mr Joe Corrigan Mr Keith Smith Mr Malachy Doherty Mrs Audrey Stewart Mrs Teresa Graham Mr Gordon Topping Mr Ronnie Hassard Mr Damian Walls In Attendance Apologies Mr Eddie McArdle, (Registrar, GTCNI) Mr Barnaby Ball (Planning and Corporate Services Manager) Mr Gerry Devlin (Senior Education Officer) Mrs Helen Jackson (Registration Manager, GTCNI) Ms Lesley Dickson (PA to Registrar) Ms Faye Harrison (Administrative Assistant) Ms Gail Mortimer (GTCE) Ms Irene Hunter (GTCS) Ms Aine Andrews Mr Ivan Arbuthnot Mrs Susan Campbell Dr Leslie Caul Mr John Colgan Mrs Frances Donnelly Mr Charles Glenn Mr Gary Haire Mrs Miriam Karp Mr John Kerr Mr Tony Lappin Mr Brendan McConville Mr John McGrady Mrs Thea Patton Miss Rosemary Rainey Mr Peter Scott Mr Paul Sloan, (DENI) Ms Rose Morrow (DENI) 1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION The Chair welcomed Ms Gail Mortimer (GTCE) and Ms Irene Hunter (GTCS) to the meeting.

2 2. APOLOGIES The apologies were noted. 3. COUNCIL MINUTES (GTC/09/Min/30) The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a correct record. They were proposed by Mrs Teresa Graham and seconded by Dr Theo Laverty. 4. MATTERS ARISING Point 6. The Chair advised that she had been to the SCoTENS meeting and had spoken to the Minister regarding the delay in determining the Council s status. The Chair subsequently received a letter from the Minister informing her that a letter had been sent to Mr Sammy Wilson. Ms Rose Morrow (DE) agreed to keep Council informed of progress on this issue. The Minister had received a response from Mr Wilson and the Chair informed members that Mr Wilson had said the status issue was being addressed by ONS and DFP would receive updates. The Chair will raise the matter with them again. Regarding the Registrar s outstanding pay awards, the Chair outlined the current position: the Department has stated that the pay awards made by the Council could not be approved until the Council s status was clarified. Members asked if the Council could go directly to ONS. The P&CSM indicated that he would take legal advice, as the position needs to be clarified, and the Council needs to ensure it is complying with its employment responsibilities. Mr Orr asked if we were different from the other GTCs, and it was confirmed that each GTC is in a different situation. Mr Hassard suggested that this may be an ombudsman matter. Mr Corrigan suggested that GTC should ask for a meeting with Mr Wilson. Members concluded that the issue be taken forward on a number of different fronts, as identified. Point 7. With regard to the response to the Department of Education Consultation a meeting has been set up with the Department for 7 th January. Point 8. The Senior Education Officer had a discussion with the Regional Training Unit on this matter. The project hopefully will start in early January. Dr Galanouli is to take account of Mrs Black s views and review her report on School-Based Approaches to Teachers Professional Development. Point 9. With regard to payment to members, the Registrar gave the Council s perspective and outlined the statement of principles and said that the system must be uniform. The Registrar asked for views on this paper as members had said they would reflect on this after the last meeting. The Chair advised that if we did decide to go forward with payment we would need Department of Education

3 approval. Members gave their views on the paper and the Chair asked for agreement to move forward. Members were in agreement. 5. CHAIR S BUSINESS The Chair advised members of her attendance at the SCoTENS Conference in Malahide and spoke of their presentation on education in Finland. Mrs McKee also attended the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals Conference in connection with the Pramerica awards, the INTO Education Conference and the ELBs conference in Slieve Donard. The Chair also met with the Minister and Mr Will Haire at a reception for to celebrate the work of those organisations that are to be replaced by the ESA. 6. OFFICERS BUSINESS None. 7. DRAFT CORPORATE PLAN (GTC/09/31/01) The Registrar took members through the document and stated the need to situate the Council s activities within a broader societal framework. The Registrar asked for comments and outlined the Mission Statement and Values. He highlighted the Strategic Goals, Objectives and Activities and asked for comments. The Chair congratulated the Registrar and Officers on a very professional paper. Mr Hassard agreed and spoke on the focus of schools and the need to have a look at early years, childrens health and factors outside school. Ms Mules said it was a detailed and welcome paper. Members approved the plan subject to minor amendment and the Registrar said he would take on board comments made by members. 8. FOOD IN SCHOOLS POLICY (GTC/09/31/02) The Chair advised that this paper had been submitted to the Policy and Professional Education Committee. The Senior Education Officer took members through the paper and said that the paper had come to Council for ratification. Mr Devlin thanked Mrs Black for her input into the paper and re-iterated that an important area built into the response was role overload and advised members that a new introduction had been added. He said the paper now recognised the important role of pre-schools and nursery schools. Mrs Black thanked the Senior Education Officer for highlighting issues. The Chair informed members that the response can now go forward.

4 9. PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH UNDERPERFORMANCE (GTC/09/31/03) The Chair suggested the title be changed to Statement of Principles for Dealing with Underperformance and for it to go as a position paper to Employers and Unions. Members agreed to change the title. The Registrar then took members through this paper and outlined the points at Guiding Principles and said that the paper should be adopted as a position paper if agreed by Council. Mrs Graham said it would need to go out for consultation first of all and asked for more time to reflect on the paper. A few amendments were suggested by members. The P&CSM added that GTCNI has a role on determining the wider professional implications of underperformance. The Registrar discussed section 3 and stated that GTCNI had a responsibility to the profession. Mrs Graham suggested that the paper stop at the end of Section 3f. The Chair suggested that the views of Council be taken on board and the paper re-worked and brought back to the next Council. Members suggested that GTCNI speak to the teachers unions and the management side. The Chair suggested a re-working and then letting the other bodies view the document. Mrs Graham suggested that GTCNI ask Unions, ESA etc if they would welcome our input before discussions begin. The Registrar summed up the discussion and it was decided to re-work the paper and then bring it back to Council. 10. FE WORKFORCE REGISTRATION: A DISCUSSION PAPER (GTC/09/31/04) The Registrar introduced the paper and discussed the new certificate programme offered by the University of Ulster. Dr Cornyn explained that this was a two year course and the Senior Education Officer outlined the accreditation process. Questions were asked by members regarding registration and what is required. The Registrar informed members that the FE sector is currently unregulated. The Registrar also outlined the benefits and guiding principles. He recommended publishing the position paper. The Chair added that the paper should also go to employing authorities and unions when it is ready. Dr Cornyn said that a position paper would be welcomed. 11. GTCW CONSULTATION (GTC/09/31/05) The Senior Education Officer introduced this paper and advised it had been taken to the Policy and Professional Education Committee and that there had been a positive series of comments for GTCW to take on Board.

5 12. APPROVAL OF QUALIFICATIONS, ANNUAL REPORT AND REGISTRATION UPDATE (GTC/09/31/06) The Registration Manager took members through this paper and updated them on the activity of the Registration Team. The P&CSM gave details of fees and the Registration Manager gave an update of school lists. The P&CSM advised on the position with C2k, Statistics Analysis and Database development. Members noted with some concern the number of teachers qualified in the rest of the UK registering annually with the Council. 13. MINUTES OF COMMITTEES (i) Policy and Professional Education Committee (PC/09/Min31) In the absence of Mr Lappin, Mrs Black presented members with the minutes, highlighting discussions on e-portfolios, the proposed survey of teachers, Food in Schools Consultation and Special Education Needs. (ii) Registration Committee (RC/09/Min28) As Mr Orr had to leave the meeting early, Mr Pollock presented the minutes to members, giving details of the work of the Registration Team and he congratulated them on the quantity and quality of the work completed. (iii) General Purposes and Finance Committee (GP&F/09/Min30) Mr Smith took members through the minutes of the GP&F Committee and gave details of income and expenditure, audit, reserve fund, finance manual and the draft corporate plan. (iv) Audit Committee (AC/09/Min21) Mrs Graham presented the Audit Committee minutes and informed members that they had discussed the upcoming elections, an update on the 2009/2010 IA Plan and the IA report on registration activities. 14. ANY OTHER BUSINESS None 15. DATE OF NEXT MEETING The date of the next meeting will be Tuesday 23 rd March 2009 at the Armagh City Hotel, Armagh.

6 Signed Dated.