CODE OF CONDUCT
Lighting fires
“The highest result of
education is tolerance.”
Helen Keller
Deciphering the code

“An idea can turn to dust
or magic, depending
on the talent that rubs
against it.”
Bill Bernbach
and this will deal with any severe cases of misbehaviour.
This code is simply not needed.”
The code itself is available to download from the
“Pleasure in the job puts
GTCE’s website, and was sent out to every registered
perfection in the work.”
teacher in England during September and October. Mr
Uttley’s advice is simple: get hold of a copy, read it, and
Aristotle
find out for yourself.
He added: “Teachers should make sure that they
at least have a look at the code, rather than making
“Learning without thought
their mind up by listening to the way it has been spun
is labour lost; thought
in the media. We can only wait and see how it will be
interpreted on a case study basis, but on the face of it I without learning is
think it is a positive document, not a negative one.
“I welcome the ongoing debate about the code, and I
perilous.”
hope that it will lead to more and more teachers picking
Confucius
it up and reading it carefully. Then they will see that it
is not like Big Brother watching your every step, but
a recognition of teachers as professionals with great “Children need models
responsibility.”
But do teachers have the time to sit down and read
rather than critics.”
the code, and would it be time well spent if they did?
Joseph Joubert
Ms Roe thinks not, and says that despite the fact that it
has been widely distributed, she has yet to see any of
her colleagues going through it.
“If people did not do silly
She told us: “In my school, I have seen absolutely
no evidence that staff have been reading the code. I’ve
things, nothing intelligent
seen no individual copies in the staffroom, and having
would ever get done.”
read it myself, I don’t thing that it would tell them
anything that they won’t have picked up already during
Ludwig Wittgenstein
their teaching careers if they did.”
Only time will tell how the new code will be used in
disciplinary actions, and how it will impose on teachers’
“In an effective classroom
free time – if at all.
students should not only
However, as it stands, all registered teachers in
England remain bound by its contents, despite the
know what they are doing,
ongoing campaign to have it retracted. SecEd
they should also know why
Further information
You can make up your own mind by reading the
and how.”
G
0911013 NASUWT Advert:Layout 1 04/11/2009 15:29 Page 1
TCE’s Code of Conduct at www.gtce.org.uk/teachers/ Harry Wong
thecode/
The Code of Conduct’s eight principles of conduct and practice
1 Put the wellbeing, development and progress of children and young people first
This includes taking “all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children”
and using “appropriate channels to raise concerns about the practice of other teachers
or professionals”.
OPPOSE
2 Take responsibility for maintaining the quality of your teaching practice
THE GTCE CODE OF
This includes making “use of assessment techniques, setting appropriate and
clear learning objectives, planning activities, and employing a range of teaching
CONDUCT AND PRACTICE
methodologies”.
3 Help children and young people to become confident and successful learners
This includes “listening to children and young people, considering their views and
preferences” and “engaging them with the implications of changes in society and
technology and offering them impartial advice and guidance about their future options”.
SIGN THE
4 Demonstrate respect for diversity and promote equality
This includes “addressing unlawful discrimination, bullying, and stereotyping no matter
PETITION
who is the victim or the perpetrator” and “taking steps to improve the wellbeing,
development and progress of those with special needs”.
The NASUWT is campaigning for the General Teaching Council for
5 Strive to establish productive partnerships with parents and carers England’s (GTCE) Code to be withdrawn because:
This includes “involving parents and carers in important decisions about their child’s
education” and “providing parents and carers with accessible and accurate information
• it intrudes into teachersʼ personal lives;
about their child’s progress”.
• it is riddled with vague statements that are open to wide
interpretation and abuse and therefore puts teachersʼ jobs and
6 Work as part of a whole-school team
careers at risk;
This includes “contributing to colleagues’ learning and development” and “recognising • it was developed on the basis of a fundamentally flawed consultation
the important role of the school in the life of the local community, and taking process;
responsibility for upholding its reputation and building trust and confidence in it”.
• it represents a monumental waste of money.
Teachers and supportive members of the public are invited to join the
7 Co-operate with other professionals in the children’s workforce
This includes “seeking to understand the roles of other professional colleagues in
campaign.
the children’s workforce” and “communicating and establishing productive working
relationships with other professional colleagues”. FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SIGN THE PETITION
8 Demonstrate honesty and integrity and uphold public trust and confidence in
GO TO –www.nasuwt.org.uk
the teaching profession
This includes “representing your professional status accurately and avoiding taking
advantage of your professional position” and “maintaining reasonable standards of
behaviour that enable you to maintain an effective learning environment and also to
NASUWT
uphold public trust”.
The Teachers’ Union The largest teachers’ union in the UK
SecEd • November 12 2009 9
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