Question reference: S5W-33295
- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 17 November 2020
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Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 November 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the General Teaching Council for Scotland to ensure that student teachers who miss more than five days' placement due to self-isolating in relation to COVID-19 will not fail courses.
Answer
The Scottish Government has regular discussions with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) in regard to student placements.
The GTCS and key stakeholders produced guidance on student teacher professional placements for the period to December 2020 which was issued to all local authorities. This states that if a student teacher considers that they have exceptional circumstances this should be discussed with their university in the first instance. Universities have issued communications to students advising them of the position on student placements including absence due to self-isolation.
The GTCS is in almost daily contact with the Scottish Council of Deans of Education and the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland to monitor students’ placements and discuss contingency plans to deal with the impacts of COVID-19.