Colleges were accused of making it more difficult for lecturers to register with the council. Gordon McIntyre, the GTC’s depute registrar, said that because colleges refused to deduct the registration fee from salaries the cost of collection was greater than that of the fee.

The number of FE lecturers registered fell from 1,488 in March last year to 1,121 at the end of last month, but Mr McIntyre said he expected numbers to edge back up.

Despite opposition from teacher members, the council agreed it would consider whether colleges should have a seat on the GTC in an effort to improve relations.

Hugh Pollock, convener of the council’s FE committee, said it was important to “educate” college principals about the value of registration. Membership of the council would “tie them into the system”. Local authorities and directors of education are already represented.