The CLD Standards Council charter

Governance

Published
10/09/2018
Last updated
19/08/2026

CLD Standards Council Chair 

The key roles of the Chair are to provide strategic direction for the CLD Standards Council, and to represent and promote the CLD Standards Council  within the sector and to policy-makers and partners at senior and strategic levels across Scotland. Under the terms of the current Framework Agreement, the Chair works in partnership with the Director of the CLD Standards Council and reports to the Chief Executive of Education Scotland and Scottish Ministers. 

The Chair works with the Executive Committee to build the capacity of the CLD Standards Council, to deliver effectively on its remit from Scottish Ministers, to enable members to have an active role and to ensure that the governance of the CLD Standards Council continues to develop in ways that are fit for these purposes. 

Executive Committee  

The Executive Committee has had a key role in establishing, setting and developing the strategic direction for the CLD Standards Council. Members have been nominated from the CLD Standards Council  membership. It does not have formal authority over the CLD Standards Council’s staff team or CLD Standards Council  business. 

The current Framework Agreement recognises the Executive Committee as providing advice and support to the Chair, challenging constructively the CLD Standards Council’s operation, and providing the Director of the CLD Standards Council and Education Scotland’s Chief Executive with an independent perspective on the CLD Standards Council’s work and its effectiveness. The CLD Standards Council aspiration is that the Executive Committee takes on, as far as is possible within the current framework agreement, the characteristics of a governing board, building the capacity of the CLD Standards Council to act in a responsive, accountable and effective way. As part of this development, the CLD Standards Council aims to develop a more structured process for appointment of Executive Committee members, which is likely to involve the election of a majority of these from and by CLD Standards Council members, and the identification of a number of “external” members bringing specific expertise who would join the Board through formal invitation by the Chair. 

Functional Committees 

There are 3 functional committees corresponding to core responsibilities: 

  • Approval of qualifications, courses and provision of CLD learning to practitioners
  • Professional Learning
  • Registration 

Each of the functional committees has had, and continues to have, a key role in establishing, developing and overseeing the CLD Standards Council’s work in its area of responsibility. 

The functional committees ensure that issues that have implications beyond their area of responsibility are referred to the Executive Committee. Where appropriate, joint working groups with members from 2 or more of the CLD Standards Council’s committees are established to take forward cross-cutting issues.  

The current Framework Agreement recognises the functional committees as part of the structure of the CLD Standards Council with a role in business planning and management. 

The CLD Standards Council’s aspiration is that the functional committees continue to develop their leadership role in relation to their area of responsibility. 

Committee members have been nominated from the CLD Standards Council’s membership. The CLD Standards Council aims to continue to develop a more structured process for appointment of committee members. 

CLD Standards Council staff provide support to shape and develop the work of the sub-committees.