Do I tell the school about this teacher's past?

[Friendoffoxes]

Longtime lurker here. A new teacher has joined my DC's school. It is a secondary and the subject she teaches is not one DC has chosen for options, so won't be teaching DC. I have only seen her on the website, so not come across her yet. Also I am married, so she wouldn't recognise me if she sees school related stuff with my name or DC's name. DH works from home so he does any pick ups if necessary, but DC normally takes the bus. Obviously I go to school stuff like performances, parents evenings, but do not get involved in PTA stuff or helping (dons Mumsnet hard hat)

I was a student with her and shared a house. She ended up stealing a significant amount of money (for a student) from me and two other people and when confronted tried to deny it and then tried to blackmail one of us (said she would tell everybody he had raped her-rubbish) if he would keep quiet about the money she had taken from him, and said the other two of us had agreed the money she had taken was a loan.

While we were dealing with this sh*t it emerged (don't want to go into details, but we started digging a bit) and she got expelled from a school because of bullying when she was younger. Also, her family got a shoplifting charge dropped (independent shop). Anyway, we decided to go to the police. We told her we would, if we didn't get the money back. Next thing we know, her family are on the phone, we have our money back with a nice generous extra added on top, on the condition we don't make any fuss.

We took it, we were young, trying to get on with our lives after graduating, skint.

Obviously she's passed a criminal check, but I'm horrified that she is working in a school. What do I do? do I have a quiet word with the school?

www.mpts-uk.org/decisions/data/1530.asp

Wishing - this is the GMC hearings page.

In just the last couple of months:

Dr Katy McAllister - convicted of 3 counts of supplying or offering to supply a controlled drug and 2 counts of possession of a controlled drug. Suspended for 12 months, no review hearing imposed so will go back to practice.

Dr Imran Qureshi - convicted of sexual assault and placed on sex offenders register for 5 years. Suspended for 12 mths, will need a review hearing (making sure no further offences) before going back to practice.

Dr Robert Debenham : convincted in 2014 of fraudulently providing prescriptions (from a prescription pad he had stolen) for financial gain then convicted in 2015 of obtaining £8,000 credit when an undischarged banckrupt - now permitted to return to pratice with 'conditions'.

Dr Ashley Wilkinson - convicted of theft of medication from his workplace and possession of a controlled drug. Suspended for 12 mths, will require a hearing (checking no further offences) before he returns to practice.

You can’t report her, there’s nothing to report.

However should you wish to sidle up to her at parents evening and give her a sinister ‘good evening’ I think you’re well within your rights to do so!

I don't agree it's a bribe, it was her family paying you back with a little compensation for your trouble. It doesn't take away from the fact that she stole it. If SHE had paid it back, with a little extra, she could claim it wasn't theft.

Anyway. You can't tell the school because nothing is proveable. If you say anything the school will think you are bonkers/vindictive/a liar, all of which would be disastrous should you need them on your side if your DD ever has problems.

If your DD ever does have problems relating to this teacher, which as you have said, is unlikely, you might mention it, but only in a "I was at university with Teacher, and shared a house. Teacher caused a very difficult and distressing situation in our household, . . . " sort of way.

OP explicitly said that the extra money came 'with the condition that we don't make any fuss', balloon. So yes, it is a bribe.

You had a choice to do something about it years ago, you didn't. That ship has sailed.

It's not great what she's done, but you accepted a 'pay off', with interest on the proviso that you don't make a fuss. So what's the point in making a fuss now?

It would irk me, too, op. But I'm not sure who you could tell about this.

I know that this is the time of year for repeats but my god, how many times are you going to post the same shit, OP?

By all means go to HT. You'll make yourself look like a complete whackjob in the process, but do it if it'll make you feel better.

Of course it was a bribe. And I don't judge the OP for taking it but 'here, take this money and now be quiet about what happened' is absolutely a bribe.

Have you done anything you regret? Hopefully she’s decided to put her past behind her and have a fresh start. Don’t think it’s your place to put her in such an uncomfortable position

With no proof it will be seen as hearsay and gossip
Like someone said above she’s turned her life around, to become a teacher she would have had to pass strict character referencing, DBS, etc
We all make mistakes when we are young and foolish- you accepted a bribe should she tell your employer?
Leave her alone to get on with her life, mind your own business you nasty piece of work

I know someone with a similar history/became a teacher and they also stole from school and were extremely neglectful of their own and other people's children. Of course this person OP knows could be a completely reformed character. For me, that would be the point of a quiet word with no expectation of any further happening. So that if any concerns arise, they would be dealt with sooner rather than later.

The money wouldn't concern me much, but nearly every poster has chosen to overlook the statement in the OP that this woman threatened to falsely accuse a man of rape to cover up the the original theft. I would ensure I bumped into her in the coridoor at school and said 'Fancy seeing you here...' If she has really changed and has nothing more to hide you may get an apology and have your mind set at rest. I wouldn't bet on it though. I accept that I'm in a very small minority here.

So where's the op gone?

But bastardkitty, can't you see how unreasonable it would be of the head to take on board the story with no proof and consequently harbour suspicion about the employee. It would be massively unprofessional. The Head would have to ignore it and not let it colour his or her judgement if anything did happen in the school. Do you really think it would be fair for any employer to listen to unproven tales about their staff and treat that staff member differently with no evidence to back it up?

For me, that would be the point of a quiet word with no expectation of any further happening

With absolutely no proof whatsoever why would anyone in the school believe the OP?

convictions on an enhanced DBS are always visible and cannot be deemed spent (along with other claims about DBS checks)

This is not true. Disclosure is NOT automatic irrespective of the level of clearance (up to and including high level security clearance where (sadly) the authorities dig deeper than they would to 'clear' someone working with children/vulnerable people. Only relevant convictions are disclosed and even then, they may not be if the relevant police officer feels it was a long time ago/ might damage employment prospects.

In a case I was involved in recently, a man was given a 'clear' DBS despite having previously been arrested for sexually exploiting a teenage girl and making an application to work with teenage girls. This only emerged later when he murdered a teenage girl.

DBS 'clearance' doesn't mean very much at all.

The DBS system is about as clear as pond water

People change. She was young. People do stupid things. Move on.

She passed an enhanced CRB check to become a teacher. Yours is an unsubstantiated story. So do nothing.

And teachers ARE employed who have criminal records - it depends very much on the nature of the offence. My father spoke to a teacher in his first two weeks who had not declared his criminal record. He cried when interviewed about it -he is a 6ft 4 former NZ rugby player who got into an after game brawl, fuelled by one too many beers when he was 21. He’s now an excellent pastoral leader in a damn tough school making a difference to kids lives. I know of a teacher who caused death by careless driving and another with a harassment charge. These are all declared offences that the HT’s don’t believe stops them being a good teacher. Schools are workplaces like any other. Of course there is the need to safeguard students but those crimes disbar you from teaching automatically.

Only raise the issue if things start happening at the school. My guess is they won't. She's probably grown up a bit since then.

Maybe she has grown up and become a better person

But as her crimes pose no safety issue for the kids I would stay schtum

Point taken Annie - depending on whether the offence is eligible for filtering.

No. It's her past and it nothing to do with how she is now or her ability to teach. Is your background perfect x

But what would you expect the school to do? You did not go to the police, so there is no record and no proof. Even if HT were to believe you (though she may just think you are being malicious), they can't sack her on your say so. They can't reprimand her or give her a warning.... they can literally do nothing. So what do you hope to achieve?This woman could just as easily make out you were making up malicious lies due to a grudge from uni days. I think without evidence you are on a hiding to nothing and need to leave it.

You also accepted a bribe in order to stop that criminal offence being recorded.... not sure you come out of it covered in roses either.

Look you had your chance to sort it out and press charges years ago but you chose not to. That was your decision. Now there’s been lots of water under the bridge and you have no idea what she’s like. She’s much older

Yes as she’s not a sex offender I’d say nothing