SENIOR officials from controversial school training body Teach First wanted to see the profession’s watchdog in Scotland disbanded, documents show.
The embarrassing revelation is contained in a report by Scottish school inspectors from 2011 revealed under freedom of information legislation.
Teach First is currently working to establish itself north of the Border and will need to have any programme approved by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
During a visit to the project in London six years ago inspectors from Education Scotland discussed the initiative with Teach First officials.
A report of the discussion states: “Teach First leaders consider that Teach First could re-invigorate the teaching profession in Scotland.
“Strong views were expressed by Teach First managers about what they saw as obstructive practices of GTC Scotland.
“They felt Scotland would benefit from disbanding the GTCS and strengthening the partnership between schools and universities instead.”
The document goes on to state that it was the view of Teach First that the teaching theory taught in Scottish universities at the time did not relate to practice in schools.
A spokesman for Teach First said the document did not reflect the current view of the organisation.
He went on to highlight positive comments made in the report about the high quality of the graduates recruited and trained by Teach First.
Education Scotland also reflected on the success of Teach First in promoting teaching as an attractive career.
The spokesman said: “While this document is six years old, it clearly reflects the inspectorate’s overall view that Teach First was making a positive contribution to improving the life chances of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in England.
“The unattributed reported comments regarding the GTCS do not reflect the views of Teach First.
“We have a very constructive relationship with the GTCS and fully recognise their important role maintaining high standards within the Scottish education system.”
The spokesman said any programme in Scotland would need to be developed in close partnership with Scottish education institutions and meet the standards of the GTCS.
The 2011 report concluded: “The highly effective way in which Teach First regularly monitors the progress of participants and improves its provision in response to rigorous self-evaluation is exemplary. Scottish providers could benefit from reflecting this.
“It is difficult to see how a model in which, essentially a student teacher, is paid a salary, would sit with Scotland’s current model in which student teachers are placed unpaid in all types of schools as part of their course.”
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