183.Paragraph 12 requires Qualifications Scotland to establish a Teacher and Practitioner Interest Committee. The function of this committee is to advise the members and staff of Qualifications Scotland on the exercise of its functions from the point of view of those providing teaching or training for Qualifications Scotland qualifications.
184.The committee members may include only one member of Qualifications Scotland, and that member must have been appointed to Qualifications Scotland to satisfy paragraph 3(2)(b) (being either a registered teacher or a member of college teaching staff providing relevant teaching or training). If appointed as a member of the committee, that member must be appointed as co-convener of the committee, but is not entitled to vote at any meeting of the committee. Other than the one member of Qualifications Scotland appointed to the committee, there can be no other committee members who are members of Qualifications Scotland. Furthermore, members of staff of Qualifications Scotland cannot be appointed as committee members. The other persons appointed to the committee must consist of one or more persons who are undertaking, or have recent experience of undertaking, training to be teachers in schools, and persons who are providing teaching or training, or have recent experience of providing teaching or training, in respect of a Qualifications Scotland qualification. Qualifications Scotland must consult the Scottish Ministers before making an appointment to the committee. Furthermore, Qualifications Scotland must, when appointing persons to the committee, encourage equal opportunities and the observance of the equal opportunity requirements.
185.In the exercise of its functions, the committee must, in every case it considers appropriate to do so, consult with the Strategic Advisory Council, the Learner Interest Committee, any other committee or sub-committee established by Qualifications Scotland, representatives from recognised trade unions which represent the interests of persons mentioned in sub-paragraph (3)(b), and such other persons as the committee considers appropriate. Qualifications Scotland members must meet with the committee where the committee reasonably requests it, or where Qualifications Scotland otherwise considers it appropriate to meet.
The Teacher and Practitioner Interest Committee