To think explaining the gaps is silly

[Thisismybeauty]

I know there's a few teachers on here!

I'm applying for (teaching) jobs and resent having to explain gaps in my employment.

The reason CANNOT come under safer recruitment as anything untoward would be flagged in the DBS check. So why on earth is this insisted upon?

It is part of safer recruitment practice. People who want to have contact with children and who are unsuitable to do so will try very hard to have that contact and to bypass systems and evade scutiny. There are a whole series of practices advised by HR which act as layers of checks.
This is one of them- as are DBS checks, as are only accepting references from official bodies- which we have sent for ourselves, not accepting personal references, asking for references from the previous two employers where possible, checking examination certificates, checking documentation on any name changes,mcheck g teacher prohibition lists etc.
If someone applied for for a teaching job and I was shortlisting -which I do regularly- and they were unwilling to explain gaps in their past/ employment, I would not shortlist them. Short and simple. And that is the advice we would be given by HR- their qualifications and experience would be irrelevant if they do not meet our safeguarding criteria and fill in the form correctly. The safety of children is more important than a candidates sensitivities.

Ian Huntley had gaps in his employment, had changed names, a CRB was not carried out, he lied and presented old references and references he had made up.

I think it's pretty reasonable to ask. The reasons for the gaps will give an idea of what sort of person you are. They're employing a person, not just a skill set.

ils, I have already explained I have.

What I'm talking about is that I don't feel I should have to, just as some feel they shouldn't have to write their date of birth or their gender.

I am so fed up of having my head bitten off on here every time I ask for other people's input, and I wish I knew or understood why people do it.

I shortlist in my role, as well, Lulu

I play by the rules - this isn't me saying I'm not going to, but questioning the validity of the rules. Since I obviously wouldn't be so rude as to do so in the interview, I asked on here.

Equality and diversity questions are on a different form, are voluntary and used to gather data though. They aren't part of safer recruitment. The gaps in employment section does form part of safer recruitment.

And listening to you here OP, many schools would not wish to employ you. The most important thing about a member of staff in a school is that they fully accept and follow absolutely safeguarding procedures. Nothing comes before safety- the Soham murders, Victoria Climbie, etc , there are numerous examples where schools failure in following safeguarding procedures has resulted in a child's death. Your attitude stinks to be honest. No one is actually interested in why you had a year off, it is their job to know why. They are not gossiping or being nosey. They are bound by confidentiality.

If it doesn't suit you find another career. Teaching won't be worse off if you do.

Lulu, I understand safeguarding procedures but my personal viewpoint is that this one is pointless and doesn't do anything to protect children.

All an 'Ian Huntley' would need to say is 'went travelling' or 'started a family.'

Thank you *ils

If you were interviewing someone, wouldn't you want to know?

It's quite normal tbh. People with gaps in their cv have a reason for it. Just say what the reason is and move on.

What you think and your personal sensitivities are irrelevant in this instance. That is all there is to it. It is not about you.
No one will appoint you, I hope.

As I've said, the system does nothing to make children any safer.

That's my gripe.

I don't really like having to go into some very personal and upsetting things in an interview.

Lulu do you think you could just stop being so bloody nasty? Is it making you feel good? Because it's making me feel awful and I really don't think I've done anything to deserve it.

All week I've been wanting to die and you're just being absolutely vile. But I bet you don't even care do you?

I think your best bet isis to explain as factually as possible on the application and try not to think about the personal aspect. If you're interviewed you can decide how to talk about it then.

It isn't about you.
And the system does protect children- when it is followed rigorously. We interviewed someone who assured us he would still have a clear DBS- like the one he showed us. It came back as showing he had crashed his car and left the scene of an accident. The lying showed us he was untrustworthy. He had been asked to be honest and was not. The job offer was withdrawn.
Another one wrote a list of jobs and I knew he could not have done one when he said because I knew who had done that job. A phone call to the Head confirmed he had lied to cover up him leaving a job because of poor performance.
Systems protect children They might not weed out all unsuitable people but they act as filters and catch many.
If you don't have to account for gaps, what is to stop you leaving out employment you don't wish an employer to know about.
For example, someone applies for a job, they have had 6 short term contracts, none renewed. To a school that rings bells about why schools appear to not want to employ this person. The candidate decides they will leave an 18 month gap which removes 4 of the jobs and makes them look more employable.
An employer has the right to know absolutely who they are putting in contact with children, it is their responsibility to be as sure as possible that the person is safe and will protect children. Systems weed out the liars and the poor teachers and the unsafe people- on the whole.

In those instances, LuLu, the school applied for the DBS and contacted previous head teachers,

I have no issue with either of those things.

At any rate, I am really not in the mood for arguing with people who just want to make me feel as bad as possible.

no CV should have gaps of more than a month or two.

you don't need to go into exact detail, but you need to give something.

plenty more candidates out there WILL do it. Want the job? Make life easy for the employers.

I am not being nasty. You are self-obsessed and passive aggressive- putting in smiley faces as if it doesn't really matter. It does. I will say it again- and I am not unsympathetic- your personal sensitivities are irrelevant in this situation. The priority is the safeguarding.

Beauty if you really have been wanting to die all week please please don't try to be a teacher. It was the most stressful period of my life and IMO you really need to be physically and emotionally fit.

In teaching it is part of 'safer recruiting'/safeguarding. As long as you are totally honest about the gaps there is no problem at all.

Governors are trained to probe gaps in employment.

I'm fine. I am a teacher.

Lulu, everything you've said about me is wrong but I will just tell you honestly I am finding your posts needlessly unpleasant.

I stand by what I said - 'explain gaps in employment' is pointless as a dubious character will lie anyway, and as you've pointed out there are checks in place to check out what someone has said - and non dubious characters are put into difficult situations sometimes.

I won't post any more on this - I just wanted to refute the 'self obsessed and passive aggressive' remarks. I'm really not like that.

Sorry. I meant apply not try!?!

I did a PGCE as a mature student and went to a very good training establishment and had good references. I didn't start looking for jobs till the autumn term following qualification. People were very suspicious. I could have kicked myself. HTs were very rigid about this at that time However there is now a recruitment crisis...

And they are trained to probe to test the answer.
"So what made you want or write a book", or "Have you always wanted to write", or "what made you return to teaching?"etc.
It's not sinister, but the tone you are asked in is important. They should sound curious.

I agree OP!

OP I agree with you.

If someone was up to no good they'd lie.

People on this thread are just being nasty for the hell of it.