A NEW lobby group to give the teaching profession a "unified voice" was launched on September 1.

The aim of the General Teaching Council is to represent, regulate and promote the ailing profession.

Ruth Silver, principal of Lewisham College, joined Education Minister Estelle Morris and leading figures from the profession to celebrate the launch at the GTC's offices, in London.

The GTC will maintain a register of all teachers qualified to teach in state schools.

A professional code of practice agreed by teachers will be published by the council as well.

The council will have 64 members, 42 of whom will be teachers elected by their peers, the rest being other stakeholders in education such as parents and employers. The organisation which hopes to raise the status and standing of the profession will advise the Government on policy.

GTC chairman Lord David Puttnam said: "The creation of the council finally empowers the professionalism, skill, experience and dedication of the nation's teachers."

Chief executive Carol Adams spoke of her ambitions for the new body. She said: "The GTC aims to make a real difference for teachers and, in doing so, for parents and pupils as well.

"Our first step will be to listen to teachers and to hear what they are telling us about what is happening in schools up and down the country. That will be the basis of the advice we give to the Government."

The regulatory body will guarantee its independence by collecting a registration fee from its members from next year.