Direct Submission Advice

Advice on completing your Professional Update - Application to complete 5 yearly Professional Update sign-off directly with GTC Scotland

The following advice is designed to help you complete the seven sections of the Direct Submission proforma. Please see this page for an accompanying exemplar: http://www.gtcs.org.uk/professional-update/profesional-context/teachers-outwith-scotland.aspx

1 Drawing upon your reflective record, outline the various professional learning activities you have in engaged as of August 2014 - the date of Professional Update implementation for all registered teachers. You may find the following link to professional learning on the GTCS website helpful - www.gtcs.org.uk/professional-update/professional-learning.aspx

v  Summary of key area/themes of your Professional Learning
In this particular section of the proforma you are not expected to repeat in detail the various entries you have made in your personal reflective learning log. We have access to your log as you are required to record your professional learning on MyGTCS.
Rather you should provide information in relation to the key areas of focus or themes which run across your professional learning. For example you may have focused on Assessment in general and the Assessment is for Learning programme and its various components in particular. Equally you may have chosen to focus on leadership and its various dimesions. Simply provide a brief summary of these which can be cross referenced to your log.

2 Which areas of the Standards have you focused on and how have you used these to support your professional learning? You may find the following link to the professional Standards on the GTCS website helpful - www.gtcs.org.uk/standards/standards.aspx

v  Focus on specific areas of the Professional Standards
v  Explain how you have used the Standards to support your learning
The focus of this section is on the Professional Standards. The GTCS has a suite of Professional Standards which can be used by you as to a teacher to support your learning and professional development:
v  Standards for Registration
v  Career Long Professional Learning
v  Standard for Leadership and Management
It is useful if you can outline which of the Professsional Standards you have chosen to use and why.
v  Remember that you are able to work across the Standards such as the SFR and the CLPL or the CLPL and the SFLM.
v  Remember that this is your choice but your choice should be guided by: the nature of your experience to date; your learning needs; your post; the young people whom you support; your school or establishment; your current situation and/or your professional ambitions.
The Professional Standards are also split into specific areas – Professional Values and Personal Commitment, Professional Skills and Abilities, Professional Knowledegand Understanding.
These are very broad headings. They have been further sub-divided into sections and numbered . eg 3.1 Teaching and Learning, 2.1 Curriculum, 2.2 Educational Systems etc.
You should take time to consider your chosen standard/s and select the area/s which reflects the learning you have undertaken.
eg Focus on Assessment and Assessment is for Learning 2.1.5
I specifically selected this area of the Standard for Full Registration as I wished to deepen my knowledge and understanding of the principles of assessment both in terms of formative and summative approaches. I used the area of the standard to consider my current knowledge and understanding and then to plan my learning. Over the year I planned a number of varied learning experiences which developed my understanding of the key principles of AiFL, allowed me to see these in action, consider how I could effectively record these in a meaningful way and finally I sought out good practice in reporting. I consistently reflected on my learning shared my thoughts and experience and used the standard as my benchmark.
You should be selective and purposeful in the of the areas you choose. It is not a question of coverage but rather focus and deepening your learning .

3 Describe in what ways this professional learning impacted on your thinking and practice and how you would evidence this? You may find the following link to evidence of impact on the GTCS website helpful - www.gtcs.org.uk/professional-update/professional-learning-journey-using-evidence-of-impact.aspx

v  Impact of learning on thinking and practice
v  Evidence to support this
In this section you continue the narrative of your learning experience. Having described the standards you have selected and how you have used them to engage in learning in this section you should consider what has changed as a result of your learning. This may be a change to your thinking. It may have deepened and if so in what ways. Your thinking may have been challenged if so in what ways; you may have come to a completed new way of thinking if so describe what this thinking was and now is . It may be that your thinking has been confirmed. Often as a result of professional learning as teacher we amend our practice be that in the class or with our colleagues.
Again outline in what ways and why your practice has changed and if appropriate outline the benefits.

4 How have you used the GTC Scotland Standards to support your critical reflection on this learning? You may find the following link on the GTCS website helpful - www.gtcs.org.uk/standards/reflective-questions.aspx

A key part of the Professional Update process is self evaluation. As suggested by the question the focus in this section is the use of the Professional Standards to support your cirtical thinking. The Professional Standards can be used in a variety of ways to support your learning and thinking. This may include:
v  using the Professional Standards to extend your thinking and practice including focussing on an area of the Standards and engaging in professional dialogue with colleagues,
v  Using the Standards to challenge and or amend your thinking; you may also wish to use the standards to think critically about what and how you wish to learn and framing these part part of the PRD process.

5 How are the professional values reflected in your professional actions in your current role? You may find the following link to the GTCs website helpful - www.gtcs.org.uk/standards/reflective-questions.aspx

v  How do you reflect the professional values of Social Justice, Integrity, Trust and Respect and Professional Commitment in your daily working life?
These are the core values that are embedded cross the suite of Professional Standards. It may be the case that you have had a particular focus on one or two of the values as an individual or as part of the work or practice that you are presently undertaking.
Outline how you feel that you demonstrate your on going commitment to these values and how you endeavour to live these values each day in the context of your post or situation.
In considering the values section of the Professional Standards you will find that the values can easily be identified in the GIRFEC, Inclusion and Additional Support needs agendas. Equally, the values can be found in your everyday practice in terms of how you treat your colleagues and the young people you support, or how you support those families and young people who may be more vulnerable. Think about your teaching and how you engage with world and societal issues and explore these in the context of your practice.

6 Looking forward, can you identify from this self evaluation and reflective activity 1-2 areas of development that you would like to focus on to further enhance your professional knowledge and practice. You may find the following link to the GTCs website helpful. www.gtcs.org.uk/standards/Self-evaluation/self-evaluation.aspx www.gtcs.org.uk/standards/Self-evaluation/self-evaluation-values.aspx

The key here is having completed your learning in the areas you have outlined above. This section of the proforma asks you to consider and identify what you plan to learn next using the Professional Standards.
Is there a connection to your previous learning focus, is it something new and why?
As in section 2 of the proforma. Be selective and focussed. It is a question of quality of focus and learning and not quantity of ideas and actions.

7 If you are currently in a post within an organisation which has a Professional Review and Development (PRD) process please provide information on how you have shared this information with a line manager.

One of the reasons that a fully registered teacher would make a Direct Submission to the GTCS is that the PRD system under which they are reviewed has not been validated by the GTCS.
We would however wish to recognise and value the various PRD systems in operation and which support professional development and professional dialogue.
In this section we are seeking a brief outline of the professional dialogue which has taken place in this context.
What did you share?
Did this include your Direct Submission Proforma?
In what ways did you share – one meeting or several on going discussions?
What was the focus of the professional dialogue?
What was the outcome of the meeting ?