Woukd you want me as a teacher

[user1494615613]

Hi,
I will try to keep this as brief as possible but hopefully share everything to prevent drip feeding.
I am seriously considering applying for a pgce in primary school education. I meet all of the academic qualifications , am a good parent and have been told I would be a good teacher.
The stumbling block is that I don't have a clear crb check. 19 years ago I was involved in an abusive relationship and unknown to me they were taking things from work ( we worked together) and they were using my id. I have a conviction for theft which will show on their checks.
It has taken me years to rebuild my life and at the grand old age of 42 I think im finally brave enough to try and follow my dream.
If you worked in a school; would you consider me or am I forever screwed?

I regularly interview teachers - some of who have had things flag up on the dbs.
The successful ones were the ones who acknowledged this in their application form - just in a sentence or two explaining about it and inviting further questions about it at interview.

I wouldn't have a problem with that. I doubt it would show up but even if it did I don't think it would be an issue.

It is horrendous. It has ruined my life, I feel like I have been punished twice the abuse and the criminal record.
I have tried a freedom of information request (several) and they don't respond. I have tried to avoid the enhanced checks that's why I have no idea what an updated one would show.
I am unsure as it's not something you want to tell people, I can't check myself so it becomes complicated

Can you get a dbs done before you apply for the pgce to check (I don’t know if this is possible!)
I think yours would count as spent and as it is not related to children wouldn’t show up?

Regardless of what shows on your DBS, in my area you would be asked to declare any convictions, spent or otherwise, on your application form. I have sat on several recruitment panels for primary teaching positions and have come across one where they declared theft in their past. It was discussed and they were still offered an interview.

This is helpful re getting info from the police and what needs to be disclosed.
hub.unlock.org.uk/finding-out-about-your-criminal-record-subject-access-requests-and-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/

I think freedom of information is more for general information, not about someone's personal information iirc? It think you need to request your information through data protection legislation instead.

I cannot help any further but I wish you the best of luck. This sounds positive, like it wont affect your chances of getting a job, as long as you address it head on with the school. But it would be nice to know what will show on your dbs or not. Although from my experience, many applications do ask you to declare all convictions, including spent ones.

Could you volunteer in a school for a bit? When I did they, they applied for an enhanced dbs for me and I got certificate in the post. Or host students? Sounds a bit random, but it is another route to getting someone to apply for your dbs...

Where in the country are you? Down south they’re crying out for teachers but up here in the north 5/6 of the teachers I know haven’t got a job this year. They’re fighting for them

Good advice to volunteer in a school. Would also help if you can show you have experience and help you find out if you really like the job!
Good luck. What a shame it would be if something that happened so long ago can still impact your life, and it wasn't even you fault.

Why didn’t you appeal the conviction if it wasn’t you?

Lots of standard application form ask you to declare such things. My recent job application did. Why not go on TES jobs, download a selection and see what they ask you to declare.

The key thing is to not try to hide the conviction when you apply for jobs, because when it later comes to light, you would most likely lose the job offer (the verbal offer is always given "subject to the relevant checks") or be dismissed for the dishonesty.

Secondly, there may be an issue in some schools if the pupil and parental body were to become aware of this. Are you still using the same name and living in the same area? If you Google your current name or your name + your location, does anything come up on the case?

As soon as you start training, you should join a union and seek advice from as to the timing and wording to use in job applications.

Good advice from Apple23. Be honest from day 1 rather than worrying about what your DBS form may or may not throw up.

I was chair of governors at a school and we had an applicant for a secretarial role (so not alone with kids) who declared on their application a drugs related conviction with violence (unspent). We felt that she had turned her life around since and deserved a chance and she was impressive at interview. She has in fact also been impressive in the job and v grateful for being given the chance and consequently a v hard worker and keen to learn etc. I do not know the legal implications of your conviction - I suggest you contact a rehabilitation of offenders organisation, surely there must be one, but hope this helps.
I should say that had the applicant not declared it, or declared it after the job offer so we had not had chance to consider it properly, we would have been unimpressed.

Here - maybe these people can advise www.unlock.org.uk

A teacher who has had a rough life but come through it is a better bet than one who went from school to uni to school with no 'real life' experience. Your story could be seen as a positive, I would have no problem employing you.
The sort of parents who would make a fuss, take their sad face to the DM, are usually the ones who have not got past their problems.
Good luck, go for it.

Hi. I'm getting the impression that you think that you do not need s DBS check to do a Pgce. I think you said the uni told you this?
This is absolutely not the case. You definitely need a clear DBS to do the course.

You would usually need one to volunteer in a school too. There is some daft advice on this thread.

When I started my Pgce in September 2017 I remember late applicants having to wait for their dbs to come through before they could start their placements.

The county is desperate for teachers you will be snapped up , I have a colleague who has a drink driving charge and was snapped up
Just explain what happened it’s such a shame you got the conviction what’s there no cctv to prove it wasn’t you ? Can you appeal the conviction now ??

Also definitely practice telling the story as a positive, you can be a role model for other parents escaping domestic violence and bad relationships, you are tough and resilient etc etc

User, if you want some sensible and knowledgeable advice I would get this moved over to the Staffroom. The teaching professionals on there will tell you the best way to proceed.