Any teachers or schools governors on here that could answer me a question?

[AliceC92]

I know a lot will judge from this thread but I just want to know whether I will ever be able to become a teacher .. Can't really find any answers on the internet.

Basically I'm now 23 years old, have a 2 year old son, bought my own house and in my final year of university studying business management.

In a nutshell I would have liked to go on to train to be a teacher. As my degree is a BSc it compromises of lots of maths so maybe even a maths teacher in a secondary school however I need to explore my options. Though when I was 14 years old I was very stupid and threw a stone over my neighbours fence and told them to go back home (thinking I was funny with my friends). This dispute between me and my neighbours had gone on for years as they did stuff to me too. They called the police - I got interviewed and told them what happened - I received a "Final Warning for racially aggravated assault". My mum was devastated at the time saying how much it will affect my future as it will never be removed. So few years later I got a job as an administrator in a training provider which needed a CRB check. I didn't tell them about the record and they didn't get the CRB for 10 months - long story short they seen the record and decided as I had proven myself and it was in the past to give me a chance.

So I've now got a relatively good job somewhere else in an office where they haven't done a CRB check - been there over 4 years. I now know I don't want to work in an office all my life.. But will I ever get looked at to be a teacher because I have a final warning?

Thanks.

[GoldfishSpy]

I have been trained in Safer Recruiting (you need someone trained in this on the interview panel, includes info on the CRB (now DBS) check). I also work in Education.

It would be at the interviewers discretion in a case like this. It would not prevent me from considering you for a job in a school. I'm not even sure it would show up on a DBS check.

On the other hand, teaching is a bloomin tough job, harder than ever at the moment. Get some classroom experience before you commit to it.

[Haggisfish]

Potentially, yes. Why not phone police non emergency number and ask them how long it will show on crb (I think it might only be six years). Which a levels do you have? What percentage of your degree relates directly to gives and a level maths specifications ( try aqa website for starters). This is more likely to limit your teaching IMO.

[Haggisfish]

And Yy to pp re experience. Teaching methods for maths has changed so much recently.

[RevealTheHiddenBeach]

I'm a trainee so someone more knowledgeable may come along soon, but I had a whole morning of lectures on legal frameworks last week, and we were told that the only thing that outright would stop you from teaching is being on the sex offenders register.

I think that what you are talking about would always have to be declared, but is unlikely to count against you - especially as it was so long ago.

[RevealTheHiddenBeach]

Ah more experienced people arrived before I had finished typing! Ignore me...

[Expedititition]

I honestly have no idea. It will show up on a DBS form and I suppose you will have to get in there first to explain yourself and hope they judge you based on your current merits.

I wouldn't make 'they did it too' excuses though. Just state the facts about your age and hope for the best.

I really do have no idea though. I can't imagine it looks good to a head.

[mythbustinggov]

Recruiting good teachers is very difficult - any sensible school interviewing you would see this was long in the past and a stupid mistake, as long as you interview well. But get some in-class experience.

[AliceC92]

Thank you all so much for your advice. This is giving me hope ! Hopefully not false hope though. Just feel like something stupid I did in the past is restricting my future!!

[AliceC92]

Please post more advice and opinions on this matter if you can.

[titchy]

It will remain forever, so disclose first before they find out. Won't necessarily be a problem.

Your lack of maths degree WILL prevent you teaching secondary level maths. Teaching business, ICT type subjects may be ok though, if you can find a training provider in these areas.

[GoldfishSpy]

There is an opportunity on the application form to explain anything that may come up in the DBS check - I would take the opportunity to explain what happened, and your age at the time there.

[AliceC92]

Also I've already researched - this final warning is still on my record. Government recognised last year that warnings were stopping people from getting certain jobs and removed some warnings after so long. Unfortunately because mine entails violence it will always be on my record

[december12]

It won't prohibit you from teaching but you will need to declare it on the declaration of criminal convictions and it will show up on the CRB check.

It will then be down to the Governors to decide whether you're still a suitable applicant. The checks aren't done until after a successful interview so they will have already decided by that point that they want you - basically it will depend how close 2nd was. If you are clearly the best person for the job, they'd take the risk IME, if it was close, they'd move on to the 2nd placed person.

Never easy to recruit Maths teachers. Not having a Maths degree won't necessarily prevent you training as a Maths teacher IME. They're so desperate for them that you can do an access course type thing to get on the course. I know because I applied a few years back - chickened out of actually doing it though!

[Haggisfish]

Alternatively you could try and get a place on a teaching on the job placement ( can't remember what it's called) and get a foot in the four that way. Schools will take a chance on you if you are not permanent-if you prove to be good they will more than likely take you on.

[sashh]

It will always show up on your DBS for teaching.

That doesn't mean you will never work as a teacher though. First of all you need to find a training organisation/college/uni for your actual teacher training.

In the past there have been blanket 'no's from some, but they are realising that one incident a long time ago is not an indicator of your character today so most now have some sort of committee that hears individual cases.