Entry Requirements for Initial Teacher Education Programmes in Scotland

What are we consulting on?

Since 1965, the Scottish Government (under its various titles) has issued a Memorandum on Entry Requirements for Initial Teacher Education programmes in Scotland (Memorandum).

Originally this was done on an annual basis but latterly it was issued on a less frequent basis. The current Memorandum was issued by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) in 2013 and at the time GTCS gave a commitment that the next review of the Memorandum would start in January 2018.

The Memorandum sets the minimum entry requirement for students’ entry to Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes in Scotland. This consultation is to ensure:

• the Memorandum is relevant and fit for purpose;
• the content of the Memorandum is sufficiently comprehensive and clear to all stakeholders;
• that ITE applicants can use the Memorandum confidently to determine whether they meet with the minimum entry requirements when applying to join an ITE programme; and
• ITE providers can provide up to date information in their literature to guide potential applicants on the expectations of the minimum entry requirements for ITE programmes.

The consultation questions will focus on areas of the Memorandum where a change is being considered. At present, we are not proposing to make changes to the qualities, values and disposition expected of applicants and therefore there is no question relating to this area.

However, there is an opportunity to offer other suggestions in the ‘other comments’ section should you chose to do so.

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