Yes, am a teacher.
I’ve lost track a bit as there’s a couple of threads running and so I’m not sure if I posted this on here or another thread. So apols if I repeat myself.
I was once appointed to a position in middle management just before the October half term, to start at Christmas. I handed in all my identity documents, filled in the DBS and I’d obviously filled in the application form with details of my references. So I started in January and after three weeks it emerged that no DBS had been done, no references had been taken up and no one had even done the most basic checks to see I was who I said I was.
It was a pretty horrible experience but it still makes me feel a bit shocked when I think on it. I mean, I know I’m harmless enough (apart from banging on a bit probably!) but the fact that I could have resigned from my last school after inappropriate behaviour towards students, the fact I could have had a criminal record for violence or sexual offences or fraud, the fact I literally could have been anyone from the street trusted with young people unsupervised.
And in my time teaching I have seen HTs behave pretty much as they like. That’s not to say there aren’t good eggs too, but it is a job where there are few who will challenge you. The fact HTs are keen to suspend OFSTED inspections isn’t a surprise but it doesn’t mean it’s a good thing!