Returning to teaching course

The course will be most relevant for:

• those wishing to return to teaching in Scotland after a period away from the profession
• those wishing to teach in Primary or Secondary schools in Scotland for the first time
• those who wish to engage with the course to support a Professional Update submission to the GTCS
• teachers in the independent sector to support a potential GTCS registration application

Our students will:

• understand and engage with current National Education Policy and the Professional Teaching Standards in Scotland, learning about recent changes in national priorities
• work collaboratively to develop an awareness of professional identity and teacher professionalism, discovering themselves as learners and practitioners committed to career-long professional learning
• develop a critical awareness of their own values, beliefs and practices and how these align with the Professional Standards and current educational policy in Scotland
• consider and engage with key areas of social justice and equality in the classroom and develop thinking and strategies for a socially just classroom
• understand key legal and policy requirements relating to inclusive policies and strategies in school to address barriers to learning

The course will:

• advise on current curriculum guidelines and their implications for professional practice
• increase confidence in completing applications and preparing for interview

The next course commences in September 2025. Course dates will be published as soon as they are available. 

This 10-week course is run fully online and all resources are available on Moodle,  our online learning platform. We recommend setting aside 4-6 hours per week to fully engage with the course content, which is made up of pre-recorded videos, reading material and weekly discussions. 

Please see below for an indication of the topics included in the course that started in February 2025. Each new week starts on a Friday.

Each week has a specific theme and the discussion is based on this theme. Halfway through the course there is a catch-up week where you can either take a break or catch up on your studies and/or further your knowledge on a particular topic by using the course virtual library.

Please note, there are no  scheduled sessions. Once a week opens, participants have access to its content for the duration of the course and can choose to study at times that suit them.

Participation at the weekly discussions is recorded and you have to take part in at least eight of them in order to complete the course. You are also required to submit an assessment by answering five questions reflecting against the GTCS' Professional Standards.

You must be a fully qualified teacher (qualifications obtained either in Scotland, the UK or abroad) and be eligible to register with the GTCS (General Teaching Council for Scotland) as this is a compulsory requirement to teach in Scotland. You should contact the GTCS directly before booking a place on the course if you are unsure.

Contact the GTCS 

Learn more about the GTCS (General Teaching  Council for Scotland)

You do not need to have received your full registration before enrolling on the course but it is advisable to start the process as it can be a lengthy procedure. Please note that if you do not have teaching qualifications, this course is not suitable for you.

Course fee: £480

If you would like to be informed of when bookings open for the September 2025 course, please complete our notes of interest form below:

Returning to Teaching Note of Interest Form - 2025

Unfortunately this course is self-funded and there is no funding or grant available to help pay for the fee. Payment must be made by card in one instalment and the course fee is non-refundable.

For any enquiries please contact the Professional Learning team:

professionallearning@ed.ac.uk