Scotland’s chartered teachers have finally had some good news, nine months after the McCormac review recommended scrapping the scheme.

Payment protection will be offered to those who have gained chartered status, or are close to doing so. Chartered teachers have also been reassured that they will not be landed with a strictly defined new list of duties.

The bottom line is that chartered teachers will continue to exist, not only in spirit but officially, according to David Noble, of the Association of Chartered Teachers Scotland (ACTS).

Speaking in an individual capacity, Mr Noble said there was reason to believe that this development marked “an end to the uncertain future” for chartered teachers and would allow “each of us to continue to make an enhanced contribution to teaching and learning”.

The duties that Scotland’s 1,100-1,300 chartered teachers are expected to carry out will be established through professional review and development (PRD) rather than a “prescribed list of duties”, Mr Noble added.

Final sign-off on the agreement with the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers is expected next week, at which point ACTS will make an official response.

Payment is to be protected for full chartered teachers and those who have partially completed the standard for chartered teachers, in return for “enhanced contributions”.

But there will be no salary progression planned for those on pay point 1-5 of the chartered teacher scale, or who have registered for the scheme but not yet begun their studies.

Mr Noble said that he would ask the SNCT to “respectfully consider the position of those chartered teachers who are in the later stages of their long and committed journey”.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “In very difficult financial circumstances, we welcome the fact that - through this SNCT agreement - those chartered teachers already in post will be able to continue to enhance practice in their schools, with appropriate financial recognition.”

henry.hepburn@tess.co.uk.