This group now has about 50 members, and the list is growing daily.  The first Glowmeet successfully took place on 29th October when an interesting discussion took place, including participants sharing how Glow is being taken up and used by their schools.  The scheduled Glowmeet sessions have been planned at different times of the day to try to find a regular time that suits most colleagues.  A list of the Glowmeets for session 2009-10 is here.  Please let us know your time preferences.  The next session is on Tuesday, 17th November at 4.15pm.  Glowmeet is the ideal forum for a widely-spread population of Chartered Teachers to communicate with and support each other.  Please try to join us.

Joining the Chartered Teacher National Glow Group

The Chartered Teacher Glow Group is open to Chartered Teachers and those on the route.  The ACTS Glow Group is within it.  To join, log into Glow, go to the National site tab, and click on the Chartered Teacher Glow Group in the list of “Groups you are not a member of”.  Ignore the unfriendly error message and click on the “Request membership” button.  You will be a member within 24 hours and the Group will appear in your list of “Groups you are a member of”.

Joining Chartered Teacher Glow Meets

Go to the National Site tab at the side and click on the National Groups tab at the top.  Then click on the Chartered Teachers Glow Group and click on “Join the Glow meet” within the Glow Meet box.  If you’ve not used Glowmeet before, you need to know that the Marratech software will be downloaded automatically and this can take a few minutes, so go and make a cup of coffee!  When it’s done, you may need to double click on it to open up the Glowmeet room.

You don’t need a webcam or even a microphone, though these will make the Glowmeet more lively for you; you will still see others who are using them.  You can take part simply by typing in the chat box and your comment will be seen by the other participants.  Full instructions with helpful screen shots are available in the Glow helpsheet, below.

Helpsheet for joining a Glow Meet room

Charitable Status

ACTS is awaiting confirmation of charitable status from OSCR; however this is expected shortly.

Winter Conference on Saturday, 6th February 2010: Engaging with new practice, research and policy

Arrangements are advancing fast for the planned ACTS Conference on Saturday, 6th February 2010 at the Stirling Management Centre.  Event organisers have now been engaged and we look forward to working with them to make the conference a success; complementing the GTCS Chartered Teacher conference later in the year.

We have been successful in attracting four main sponsors to support the conference.  We extend warm thanks to: the Scottish Government, Learning and Teaching Scotland, the Educational Institute of Scotland, and the University of the West of Scotland.  The conference will have a strong link to: implementing Curriculum for Excellence; recent policy changes of interest to those involved in Chartered Teacher;  CPD opportunities; educational research; and will provide a space for Chartered Teachers and those on the route to share their practice and research.  Teachers will be invited to showcase their pupils’ achievements in music, art, and digital media.  After the conference, a Teachmeet-style event will take place, followed by the ACTS AGM.

More details will available in the December newsletter, including how to apply for tickets and propose a workshop.

There have been ongoing investigations into how Chartered Teachers who are no longer studying at a Higher education establishment can access academic journals.  There was a concern that the new Code of Practice on the Role of the Chartered Teacher placed an emphasis on the Chartered Teacher staying abreast of the latest research, theory and practice, while not providing guidance on how such information could be obtained.  This point had been made to the TES Scotland who had approached ACTS for a response to the publication of the Code.

David Noble spoke about progress on the planned February 2010 ACTS conference, provisionally titled, ‘Engaging with new practice, research, and policy’.  He had been in discussion with many of the national education agencies and Chartered Teacher Programme providers.  Sponsorship has been obtained from two organisations and further discussions will take place during October.  David is in contact with two events organisers and a final decision on the direction to proceed will be taken at the end of October.  The event, which is ‘pencilled-in’ for Saturday, 6th February, will be promoted from mid-November onwards.  It is envisaged that the event will appeal to:  Chartered Teachers; those ‘on the route’; teachers who are considering Chartered Teacher; practitioners who wish to share their enhanced practice; Chartered Teacher Programme providers and academic researchers; policy-makers and other educationists from national and international agencies; and commercial companies.  There will be CPD, research, policy, and good practice sessions; with networking opportunities and the ACTS Annual General Meeting.  It is planned that a Question Time-style debate will be one of the session choices in the afternoon.

The Charterd Teacher Glow Group is now established at https://portal.glowscotland.org.uk/establishments/nationalsite/Chartered%20Teachers/default.aspx.  ACTS have agreed with Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) to operate the Glow Group on behalf of all people who have access to Glow and who wish to be members of a Chartered Teacher-focused community.  Monthly Glow Meets (web conferences) will take place, with the programme of sessions available at https://portal.glowscotland.org.uk/establishments/nationalsite/Chartered%20Teachers/Lists/Events/AllItems.aspx.  The first one takes place from 7.30 – 8.15pm on Thursday, 29th October, with a discussion around the Revised Standard for Chartered Teacher.  Any Glow user can request membership of the Glow Group and then be able to attend the Glow Meets.

Dorothy Coe informed the committee that the Autumn issue of the ACTS newsletter had been emailed to ACTS members and is available on the website.  The next edition will include conference information, an article on Co-operative Learning, and a printable ACTS flyer for staffrooms.

ACTS are considering whether to affiliate with the College of Teachers.  Discussion will be taking place on the committee’s private wiki and a decision will be taken before the next meeting.

Finally, ACTS continue to pursue charitable status.

The next committee meeting will take place in Edinburgh on Saturday, 21st November from 10.30am – 12pm.  Members who wish to attend should email actscotland@yahoo.com for further details.

in Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae

Winter Conference

David presented his exciting proposal that ACTS organise and host a Winter conference, aimed at Chartered Teachers (but not exclusively) and complementary to the GTCS event.  This is to be primarily a participative event, accommodating a presentation from a speaker of note and opportunities for:  CPD, presentation and advancement of research, dissemination of good practice, and engagement with policy.

February was thought to be an ideal time of year, and David is to explore the possibilities for funding and a suitable venue with professional conference organisers.

Published articles

Two committee members have had articles published recently in the TESS.  More articles with a focus on teaching and learning practice are to follow.

ACTS Members standing for the GTCS

Committee member Karen Farrell is standing for election to the GTCS.  Members, Linda Fisher-Dougan and Andrew McNeil, are also standing.

Chartered Teacher academic articles

Three papers relating to Chartered Teachers are available through the journal, Professional Development in Education.  Follow the link here to a free copy of this journal, where each of the articles can be found.

Access to academic journals

ACTS is to investigate how Chartered Teachers might gain free access to academic journals and libraries.

Chartered Teacher Glow Group

This has now been set up and will be a focus for continued development by Dorothy and David.  It will provide a means of online communication through Glow and Glow Meet.  The group will be launched at the Scottish Learning Festival on 23rd September with a brief Glow Meet at 7pm.  You can find out more about the plans for the Glow Group by visiting here at 7pm on the 23rd.  Alternatively, click here to see an outline of planned Glow Meets during session 2009-10.

Staffroom posters

A printable poster for staffrooms, promoting ACTS, will be added to the next newsletter.

Visit next year by Anne Webb, Principal, Rossmore Public School, Australia

This award-winning Australian teacher will visit Scotland next year.  It is hoped that some exchange of ideas can be arranged through ACTS.

College of Teachers

Possible connections with the College of Teachers will be explored at the next meeting.

The next ACTS committee meeting will take place in Bellshill on Saturday, 3rd October.  Please email actscotland@yahoo.com if you would like to attend.  Committee meetings are open to all members of ACTS.

Annie welcomed everyone and thanked them for travelling to Peebles for the meeting.

Membership continues to grow steadily.  It was decided that once charitable status has been gained, the Paypal facility for online subscription payments will be reinstated.  A flyer giving details about ACTS can be sent to all EIS members.  Contacting all Module 1 candidates presents more problems, and solutions will be pursued over the holidays.

The profile of ACTS continues to be high.  Many people made enquiries about ACTS at the GTCS Chartered Teacher Conference on 30^th May in Glasgow.  Members had appreciated the opportunity to hear Prof Andy Hargreaves and enjoyed networking with other Chartered Teachers.  The discussion part of the day was seen as valuable though perhaps too restricted in its focus questions.

It was agreed that ‘good practice’ needs to be given more prominence.  Our next newsletter will feature articles from members on this theme.  Other articles would be welcomed.  Investigations have begun into acquiring access to an Athens account.

There was extended discussion about the response to GTCS Consultation. This will be summarised and submitted to GTCS in the required format, including responses made on the ACTS committee wiki pages.

Three members of the ACTS committee have places at the Scottish International Summer School on School Leadership.

Venues for future meetings were discussed and will be explored.  The next meeting will be on 29^th August on Cumbrae.

The ACTS Committee met at Woodfarm High School, East Renfrewshire on Saturday, 25th April.  David was pleased to report that there were 98 Full and Associate members of the association, with email and letter membership invitations being sent out to those who attended the recent reception at the Scottish Parliament and who are not yet members.

A brief discussion took place reflecting on the success of the reception.  Duncan was thanked for organising the fantastic musical segments during the morning.  It was felt that the committee had ensured that the event was well organised and run, with some pointers for development.  Fiona Hyslop’s keynote can be read here.

David asked that all those involved in the association consider sending him useful weblinks which may be of interest to Chartered Teachers.  This could include academic papers, news stories, resources, discussions etc.  All links will be hosted at the ACTS virtual library; details of which will follow.

ACTS will have a table at the GTCS/Scottish Government Chartered Teacher conference, which takes place at the Hilton, Glasgow on Saturday, 30th May, with a keynote from Andy Hargreaves.  A sub-committee is hoping to organise a social event close-by for after the end of conference.  Details will be contained in the next ACTS newsletter which is due to be issued before the end of the month.

ACTS and individual members are invited to take part in the national consultation on the GTCS (’Towards an Independent General Teaching Council for Scotland: Consultation on the future status of the GTCS’).  Some initial points were made, with the recognition that a longer discussion is necessary in order to construct a useful response.  The deadline for which is 26th June.

Finally, we looked into raising the idea of making a regular article contribution to the TESS and raised a request from HMiE for examples of ‘good practice’ by Chartered Teachers.

The next meeting of the ACTS committee will take place in Peebles on Saturday, 13th June.

ACTS can be contacted at actscotland@yahoo.com.

ACTS membership form

ACTS committee

Exciting news!  The General Meeting of the Association of Chartered Teachers Scotland will take place at 10am on 13th December 2008 at the Don Room, The Optima Building, Robertson Street, Glasgow.

Chartered Teachers (both fully accredited and those who have gained Module 1 and are on the route) and other interested parties are invited.  Above, is a copy of the invitation, including the Agenda, forms for joining the Association and some useful information, all available for you to download.

We would be grateful if you would pass the attached information on to anyone else who might want to come along.

There will be coffee/tea on arrival and the meeting will close by 12, leaving plenty of time for some seasonal shopping if required!

Please let us know if you can join us. Hope to see you there.  You can contact the association at actscotland@yahoo.com.