Safeguarding is of paramount importance in the field of education, and it is crucial to ensure that all teachers are appropriately vetted to prevent any potential harm to children. However, one significant gap in the safeguarding process is that having a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check does not necessarily mean that a teacher is eligible to teach. This is because being prohibited from teaching by the Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA) is not included in a DBS check.
The TRA is responsible for regulating teachers in England and Wales, and they have the power to prohibit teachers from teaching in any school or college in the country. A teacher may be prohibited from teaching for a variety of reasons, including misconduct, serious breaches of professional standards, or criminal convictions.
While a DBS check is a necessary requirement for all individuals who work with children, it does not provide a complete picture of a teacher's suitability to teach. This is because it only reveals whether a person has a criminal record or not, and not whether they have been prohibited from teaching by the TRA.
This gap in safeguarding is particularly relevant for teachers who have worked in the UK and look to move overseas for a 'fresh start'. These teachers may have undergone criminal records checks in other countries, but this does not necessarily mean that they are eligible to teach in the UK. If a teacher has been prohibited from teaching by the TRA, they will not be allowed to teach in any school or college in the UK, regardless of whether they have a clean criminal record or not.
To address this gap in safeguarding, it is crucial that schools and colleges work closely with the TRA to ensure that all teachers are eligible to teach. This includes verifying that a teacher is not prohibited from teaching by the TRA, in addition to obtaining a DBS check. By working closely with the TRA, schools and colleges can ensure that the safety and well-being of children are protected, and that teachers who are not eligible to teach are identified and prevented from doing so.
In conclusion, having a DBS check is a necessary requirement for all individuals who work with children, but it does not provide a complete picture of a teacher's suitability to teach. Being prohibited from teaching by the TRA is not included in a DBS check, and this can create a significant gap in safeguarding. To address this, it is crucial that schools and colleges work closely with the TRA to verify that all teachers are eligible to teach, and that the safety and well-being of children are protected.
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