These Regulations relate to the functions of the General Teaching Council for Wales, a body corporate established by the General Teaching Council for Wales Order 1998, made under the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998, section 8. The aims of the Council are to contribute to improving the standards of teaching and the quality of learning and to maintain and improve the standards of professional conduct amongst teachers in the public interest.

Section 3 of the Act confers on the Council the function of establishing and maintaining a register of teachers. Part II of these Regulations makes provision as to the form and manner in which the register is to be kept, and other matters relating to registration. Part II also prescribes circumstances additional to those set out in section 3 of the Act in which teachers are eligible and ineligible for registration.

Part III authorises the Council to issue and from time to time revise a Code of Practice laying down standards for the professional conduct and practice expected of registered teachers, and makes provision about the provision by the Council of copies of the Code.

Part IV requires the Council to supply copies of information held about them to registered teachers and other persons such as qualified teachers who are not registered about whom the Council hold records pursuant to the General Teaching Council for Wales (Additional Functions) Order 2000. The Council are also required to supply the information set out in Schedule 2 to employers and prospective employers of teachers and to the General Teaching Council for Scotland.