Collee of Teaching.docVIP

College of Teaching standards plan Setting standards and sharing research would be responsibilities of a College of Teaching, according to plans for creating a professional body for teachers in England. But membership would be voluntary and it would have no role in disciplinary hearings or in setting pay. Full members would need to have qualified teaching status. Head teachers leader Russell Hobby welcomed the idea of such an evidence-based, non-political body. The blueprint for an independent, professional body for teaching has been produced by a commission set up by the Princes Teaching Institute. Professional voice The commission included head teachers, teachers, academy providers, academics and teachers unions. The teaching institute, which has the Prince of Wales as president, has been acting as broker for talks about setting up a professional body since September 2012. This marks the latest stage in discussions about creating a college. The functions of the proposed College of Teaching would be to set standards, help with professional development and to use research to improve professional practice. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote If teachers want professional respect and freedom from interference, they need a body like this to strengthen their voice” Russell Hobby National Association of Head Teachers, general secretary It would provide a voice for the profession - in the way that there are professional bodies in medicine and law. Standards would include areas such as subject knowledge, professional skills and leadership. The college would also become a centre for commissioning, collecting and sharing research about teaching. But it would not be involved in the areas where teachers are represented by unions, such as pay and conditions. Members could be expelled from the college for misconduct, but it would not have any role in disciplinary cases involving teachers. There has been a political row about whether staf