General Teaching Council for Scotland
GTC Scotland is the independent professional body which maintains and enhances teaching standards and promotes and regulates the teaching profession in Scotland.
The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC Scotland) is the independent professional body which maintains and enhances teaching standards and promotes and regulates the teaching profession in Scotland. We strive to be a world leader in professional education issues. Established in 1965, GTC Scotland was the first such professional body for teaching and teachers in the United Kingdom and one of the first teaching councils in the world. The legislation that established GTC Scotland in 1965 was replaced by The Public Services Reform (General Teaching Council for Scotland) Order 2011 (the Order) which passed into law in March 2011. GTC Scotland has always been financially independent, being funded by teachers and not from the public purse. GTC Scotland has also had a wide range of professional responsibilities but some decisions were subject to final approval by the Scottish Government. On 2 April 2012 the Order conferred independent status on GTC Scotland, with enhanced powers and greater flexibility of operation. As a result GTC Scotland became the world's first independent, self-regulating professional body for teaching. Visit www.gtcs.org.uk today
John Climbs
Hi, my name is John and I am originally from Newcastle. As a child I was always into sports, I then spent over 20 years in the Army and it was during my service that I learnt the importance of fitness and healthy living.
For the past three years now I have competed in numerous running events and endurance events and along the way I qualified first as a Level 2 Fitness Instructor and then as a Level 3 Personal Trainer. I'm passionate about healthy living and fitness!
In October 2013, I will join an expedition to return to Nepal for an attempt to climb Island Peak. Island Peak is a 6,189m mountain (a tad over 20,000 feet), located in the Everest region of Nepal. Imja Tse, as it is known locally, lies towards the head of the Chukkung Valley and was so named because it stood like an island surrounded by a sea of glaciers. It is aptly named. Lhotse and Nuptse are to the north, Makalu to the East, Baruntse to the south west and Ama Dablam to the south west. It is right in amongst the giants of the world.
Whilst the mountain has some technical difficulties on summit day, for example the ice wall and narrow ridge, the biggest obstacle is the altitude. At 20,000 feet, for every breath you take your body only gets between 22-25% oxygen so everything you do is hard work. The key is physical fitness and in particular cardiovascular and endurance fitness... and a determination to succeed.
The training has already started and as part of that, I intend to take part in The Wall ultra marathon in June 2013. This is a 65 mile endurance event which is, simply put, running Hadrian’s Wall from Carlisle to Newcastle.
To hear more, visit John's blog at www.inspiriational-personal-training.co.uk
Check out some photos from our recent charity walk!
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