What is the Chartered College?

The Chartered College of Teaching is a professional body for the teaching profession that opened its doors in January 2017.

It is a voluntary, membership-based organisation aimed at supporting teachers’ professional development, promoting and sharing evidence-informed practice, and recognising pedagogical excellence.

The chief executive of the college is Dame Alison Peacock, the former executive head of Wroxham Primary School in Hertfordshire.

It is holding its second annual conference on Saturday 17 February in London.

How many members does it have?

According to the Chartered College just under 11,000 teachers have so far signed up as members.

However, Dame Alison has said that the college needs to become a “massive” organisation, counting “a majority” of England’s teachers among its membership.

She said: “In a decade’s time, I would want, as soon as a teacher becomes qualified, that one of the first things they do alongside joining their union is say ‘…and I must become a member of the Chartered College’.”

Who funds it?

Originally it was intended that the Chartered College would be founded using a crowdfunding campaign.

However, those behind the college were forced to rethink when the campaign raised less than 10 per cent of its target.

The Department for Education got the college off the ground by giving it £5 million over four years.

However, Dame Alison has said she wants the college to be “independent” and able to stand on its own two feet by 2021 through a combination of membership fees and funding secured from industry and philanthropic organisations.  

“We don’t want to be in a position where there’s a change of government or there’s a change of thinking, and they say ‘oh yeah, that College of Teaching, that was a good idea but that’s by the wayside now’,” she said.

What does it offer?

Last month, the college started piloting its “chartered teacher” programme.

There are currently 140 teachers on the 14-month course. To get chartered teacher status, they will have to complete a range of different assessments including “rigorous written and oral assignments, completion of a professional development plan, participation in debate activities, a small-scale research or improvement project, and submission of a portfolio of videos of practice, work samples and reflections.”

The Chartered College has warned that not everyone will pass on their first attempt.

In addition to chartered status, the college publishes a termly journal, provides access to a research database, hosts events and runs local teacher networks across the country. 

What will the college be discussing at its annual conference?

According to the conference programme, Daisy Christodoulou, director of education for No More Marking, will be giving a talk on the comparative judgement approach to assessment.

There will be two panel discussions: one on “sharing positive practice” about teacher wellbeing, and another on inclusion.

Other topics set to be discussed include normalising flexible working to improve teacher retention and “building effective parent partnerships”.

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