Useful links
Government bodies
Department for Education (DfE)
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London SW1P 3BT
The Department for Education is the department of Her Majesty’s Government working to the UK Secretary of State for Education.
| Telephone: | 0370 000 2288 |
| Email: | Contact form |
| Website: | https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education |
National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL)
The National College for Teaching and Leadership was formed on 1 April 2013 following the merger of the Teaching Agency and the National College for School Leadership.
| Website: | http://www.nationalcollege.org.uk |
Teaching Information Line
The Teaching Information Line advises on recruitment opportunities and handles queries about becoming a teacher, initial teacher training and provision of relevant training.
| Telephone: | 0800 389 2500 |
| Email: | Contact form |
Teacher Enquiry Line
The Teacher Enquiry Line handles queries about teacher induction, qualified teacher status and teacher regulation.
| Telephone: | 0300 7900225 |
| Email: | qts.enquiries@education.gsi.gov.uk |
Teacher Reference numbers
For any queries over Teacher Reference numbers, contact the NCTL at the number shown.
| Telephone: | 0247 666 0195 |
Our Associations
Girls’ Schools Association (GSA)
130 Regent Road
Leicester LE1 7PG
GSA is the main association to which heads of girls senior independent schools belong.
| Telephone: | 0116 2541619 |
| Email: | office@gsa.uk.com |
| Website: | http://www.gsa.uk.com and http://www.mydaughter.co.uk |
Headmasters’ & Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC)
12 The Point
Rockingham Road
Market Harborough
Leicestershire LE16 7QU
HMC represents the heads of over 240 boys’ and co-educational independent senior schools.
| Telephone: | 01858 469 059 |
| Email: | gensec@hmc.org.uk |
| Website: | http://www.hmc.org.uk/ |
Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS)
11 Waterloo Place
Leamington Spa CV32 5LA
Represents the heads of more than 570 boys’, girls’ and co-educational preparatory schools for children aged from 2 to 13.
| Telephone: | 01926 887833 |
| Email: | iaps@iaps.uk |
| Website: | https://iaps.uk/ |
Independent Schools Association (ISA)
ISA House
5-7 Great Chesterford Court
Great Chesterford, CB10 1PF
ISA members include heads of some 300 preparatory, senior and all-through schools.
| Telephone: | 01799 523619 |
| Email: | isa@isaschools.org.uk |
| Website: | http://www.isaschools.org.uk/ |
Society of Heads of Independent Schools
12 The Point
Rockingham Road
Market Harborough
Leicestershire LE16 7QU
The Society represents the heads of independent schools of all sizes, many of which have a long tradition of boarding.
| Telephone: | 01858 433760 |
| Email: | gensec@thesocietyofheads.org.uk |
| Website: | http://www.thesocietyofheads.org.uk |
Council of British International Schools (COBIS)
55-56 Russell Square
Bloomsbury
London
WC1B 4HP
COBIS is a membership association of British schools of quality, established in 1981 to support its members and represent their interests in Britain and overseas, particularly with Government, education authorities and educational associations in order to advance the interests of British schools outside the UK.
| Telephone: | 0203 8267190 |
| Email: | executive.director@cobis.org.uk |
| Website: | http://www.cobis.org.uk |
Additional independent sector organisations
The Independent Schools Council (ISC)
The Independent Schools Council is established to support the aims and objectives of its member associations, to protect and promote the sector through targeted and effective campaigns with policy makers and opinion formers, to be a leading source of legal and regulatory guidance for the sector, to conduct and compile authoritative sector research and intelligence and to provide online access to sector and school information to inform parental decisions
| Telephone: | 020 7766 7070 |
| Email: | Email options |
| Website: | http://isc.co.uk |
Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)
The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) is a body approved for the purpose of inspection under Section 162A of the Education Act 2002. As such it reports to the Department for Education (DfE) on the extent to which schools meet statutory requirements. ISI is the agency responsible for the inspection of schools in membership of the Associations of the Independent Schools Council (ISC)
| Telephone: | 020 7600 0100 |
| Email: | info@isi.net |
| Website: | http://www.isi.net/home |
School-based initial teacher training resources
Independent Schools Council (ISC) Teacher Training
ISC’s teacher training website contains information for graduates considering teaching as a career and for independent schools wanting to train teachers.
| Email: | Contact form |
| Website: | http://www.iscteachertraining.co.uk |
Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference (HMC) Teacher Training
HMC’s teacher training website has details of a two year programme of recruitment, training and induction that provides a direct route into the teaching profession.
| Telephone: | 01858 462 477 |
| Website: | http://www.hmcteachertraining.org.uk |
National organisations
General Teaching Council for Wales
9th Floor
Eastgate House
35-43 Newport Road
Cardiff CF24 0AB
| Telephone: | 029 2046 0099 |
| Website: | http://www.gtcw.org.uk |
General Teaching Council for Scotland
Clerwood House
96 Clermiston Rd
Edinburgh EH12 6UT
| Telephone: | 0131 314 6000 |
| Website: | http://www.gtcs.org.uk |
General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland
3rd Floor
Albany House
73-75 Victoria Street
Belfast BT2 7AF
| Telephone: | 028 9033 3390 |
| Website: | http://www.gtcni.org.uk |
Northern Ireland Department for Education
Rathgael House
43 Balloo Road
Bangor
Co. Down BT19 7PR
| Telephone: | 028 9127 9279 |
National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC)
Oriel House
Oriel Road
Cheltenham
Glos, GL50 1XP
UK NARIC is the National Agency responsible for facilitating checks on non-teaching qualifications awarded overseas.
| Telephone: | 0871 330 7033 (Helpline) |
| Website: | http://www.ecctis.co.uk/naric/ |
Teaching unions
National Union of Teachers
Hamilton House
Mabledon Place
London WC1H
| Telephone: | 020 7388 6191 |
| Website: | http://www.nut.org.uk |
National Association of School Masters/Union of Women Teachers
Hillscourt Education Centre Rose Hill
Rednal B45 8RS
| Telephone: | 0121 453 6150 |
| Website: | http://www.nasuwt.org.uk |
National Association of Headteachers
1 Heath Sq,
Boltro Rd,
Haywards Heath,
W Sussex RH16 1BL
| Telephone: | 01444 472414 |
| Website: | http://www.naht.org.uk |
Association of School and College Leaders (formerly SHA)
130 Regent Rd
Leicester LE1 7PG
| Telephone: | 0116 2991122 |
| Website: | http://www.ascl.org.uk |
Association of Teachers and Lecturers
7 Northumberland Ave
London WC2N 5DA
| Telephone: | 020 7930 6441 |
| Website: | http://www.atl.org.uk |
Voice: the union for education professionals
2 St James’ Court
Friar Gate
Derby DE1 1BT
| Telephone: | 01332 372337 |
| Website: | http://www.voicetheunion.org.uk |
