General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland

About the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland

The General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) is the professional body for teachers in Northern Ireland. It is one of the Department of Education’s Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs) and is accountable to the Education Minister and the NI Assembly.

Current status

GTCNI’s Council/Board was stood down in December 2021, following an independent Board Effectiveness Review. This found systemic failures in its leadership and recommended the dissolution of the organisation, a step requiring legislative change.

In the interim period, a series of consultations and engagement exercises have been undertaken which confirmed that all of GTCNI’s statutory functions play an important role in protecting the quality of our teaching workforce; and that all need to be retained.  At the same time, GTCNI staff have continued to operate under DE oversight and there have been major improvements in the body’s performance; and in its compliance with all governance and accountability requirements for ALBs.

In light of this, the Education Minister has decided to retain GTCNI, reforming its leadership structures and strengthening its position as the regulator for the teaching profession here.

Departmental officials are currently working to bring forward a GTCNI Bill reflecting the Minister’s decision. It is intended that this Bill will commence its Assembly passage during autumn 2025.

For more information on the organisation visit the GTCNI website (external link opens in a new window / tab).

Contact GTCNI

Telephone: 028 9033 3390
Email: info@gtcni.org.uk or registration@gtcni.org.uk

Address:

4th Floor
Albany House
73 – 75 Great Victoria Street
BELFAST
BT2 7AF

Registering with GTCNI

Website: General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Registration Portal: GTCNI Online