Section 12 – The teacher and practitioner charter
28.Section 12 requires Qualifications Scotland to prepare and publish a teacher and practitioner charter within 6 months of this section coming into force. This charter must be prepared in collaboration with the Teacher and Practitioner Interest Committee (as established by paragraph 12 of schedule 1) and such other invited persons as wish to participate.
29.The charter must set out what persons providing teaching or training in respect of a qualification devised or awarded by Qualifications Scotland should expect from Qualifications Scotland in the exercise of its functions. For example, these expectations could include: how and when Qualifications Scotland communicates with and involves teachers and other practitioners; what Qualifications Scotland will do to act on teacher and other practitioners’ concerns with qualifications or assessments; or how teachers and other practitioners are better supported in delivering learning and teaching for Qualifications Scotland qualifications. The teacher and practitioner charter may also include such other information as Qualifications Scotland considers appropriate.
30.The persons Qualifications Scotland invites to participate in the preparation of the teacher and practitioner charter must include persons providing teaching or training for a Qualifications Scotland qualification, persons training to be a teacher, and persons whom Qualifications Scotland believes represent the interests of such persons. When inviting persons to participate in the preparation of the charter, Qualifications Scotland must encourage equal opportunities, and in particular the observance of the equal opportunity requirements. The preparation of the charter may take place before this section comes into force.
31.Prior to the finalisation of the charter, Qualifications Scotland must provide the Strategic Advisory Council (see paragraphs 19 to 21 of these Notes) and the Scottish Ministers with the opportunity to comment on the charter, and must have regard to any comments received from the council and Ministers in response.
