It’s Maxwell’s house now
Bill Maxwell’s appointment as head of Education Scotland has been confirmed on a permanent basis. In May last year, he was made transitional chief executive to oversee the merger of Learning and Teaching Scotland and HMIE. Originally an educational psychologist, Dr Maxwell (pictured, left) joined the Scottish education inspectorate in 1994. In 2010, he went on to succeed Graham Donaldson as senior chief inspector of HMIE.
Two teachers re-registered
Two teachers have successfully applied to the General Teaching Council for Scotland to have their names restored to the register. Eric Tessier- Lavigne was struck off last year after admitting sending emails to his pupils at Gordonstoun School about what would be in their French oral exam. Ali Abdel-Motalab, a maths and community languages teacher, was banned from teaching six years ago for falsifying references.
Centre emerges from merger
City of Glasgow College has launched a Merger Research and Partnership Centre. It brings together documentation, books and periodicals on mergers, consultation and mentoring services, as well as a leadership and change academy. It was set up following the merger of three colleges - Central, Metropolitan and Nautical Studies - to form City of Glasgow College.
GTCS seeks views on competence
The General Teaching Council for Scotland has launched a consultation on proposed changes to its Code of Practice on Teacher Competence. In future, it will be known as the Framework on Teacher Competence. It sets out the steps and process for dealing with cases of both brief and longer-term periods of under-performance. The amendments have been prompted by the GTCS’s move to full independent status in April. http:bit.lywxsv73
Play’s the thing for pound;3m funding
The Scottish government has made a pound;3 million investment in children’s play activities. The funding, up until 2013, will be shared between “Play Ranger” community-based play opportunities (pound;1.5m), the Grounds for Learning initiative to improve school playgrounds (pound;1.05m) and staff development across Scotland’s play sector (pound;450,000). The money is being drawn from the pound;270m Early Years Change Fund, which includes a pound;50m government contribution over the next four years.
