Moral dilemma: No Police checks for teacher – should I tell someone or am I being a busybody?

[Frieda]

Last term, a friend of mine was approached by the head of a local private pre-prep school to cover a temporary part-time teaching post to cover someone's maternity leave. The Head had heard from another parent that she'd been a teacher five years previously, and gave her a very informal interview where she offered her the job on the spot. She wasn't asked for any references and, despite the fact that she's been teaching at the school for nearly a term now, she's never been asked to undergo a police check. Although my child doesn't go to this school, as a parent, I was frankly quite shocked that someone could be given a job working with children without any background checks. I'm sure my friend is perfectly ok, but since all the stuff in the news tonight about the Soham trial, it made me wonder whether other staff at the school ? the other teachers, the support staff, the bloke who takes the kids for PE and swimming, etc. are similiarly unchecked.
I know private schools aren't covered by Ofsted in the same way as state schools, but surely there must be some official body making sure that dodgy people don't get to work with children in the private sector.
Do you think I ought to mention this to someone? and if so, who?

I do. Your friend is probably fine but the schools recruitment procedure needs looking at. I'd pass the info on. I am astonished that this has happened since Soham.

If I found out that a teacher at my ds's school has not been checked - I'd be furious. My understanding is that all teachers have to be checked and I thought that included private schools. Perhaps you could ask your friend what she feels about it? Would she like to find out somebody not checked is teaching her children!!

Frieda, i'd say yes! This thread has worried me as my dd "MIGHT" be going to a private school. We have many visits to more schools before we decide! I have worked in childcare for years and have been checked every time for a new job. At one i was allowed to start working while it went through as it takes so long, (and even that shouldn't happen really!) I would find that situation very worrying and who to contact. Well dp said the National Care Standards Commision could tell you more! There is someone else i think too.....i will look now!+

Got it, ISCIS, stands for Independant Schools Council Information Service. If you rang them surely they'd know and get on to this school!

Your not being a busybody at all. When terrible things happen we all sit at home and say, well why? They should have been policed checked, i would have done this and that.........

Frieda ...
You are not being a busy body at all. I was a teacher and I have always been checked for every job ... I wouldn't expect anything else ... and I would be horrified if my DS went to a place where no checks had been carried out ...
IMO it is more important to check out the casual teachers (part time, temps, sports etc) ...
I think you should either tell your friend that you are worried about the school's policies, phone the school direct or contact the ISCIS ...

My friend didn't seem all that concerned about it when I expressed my shock. She said "I suppose I should ask them to organise a police check". Actually, it's not her I'm worried about it ? it's the school's lax policy I'm more concerned about. I will get in touch with the ISCIS and see what they have to say ? anyone know where they're based? (prob have a website ? I'll check).
The awful thing is, the school is in an area of London where the choice of schools is pretty dire, so they're never going to be short of a captive audience of parents desparate to keep their kids out of the lousy state school in the area. It makes me really cross that people are making huge amounts of money from people who assume private schools are always going to be better.
Thanks, everyone, for all your input.
F x

I find that strange - even thought I had previously worked in my school - then resigned and then went back ( long story) I still had to have a CRB check that is compulsory for all teaching staff..... ( had had the county one and one from Australia)

Temporary staff are always fertile ground for dodgy people ... sure your friend is fine but what about the next one?!?!?

I think people can work without a police check, usually while they're waiting for it to come through, but they always have to be with another member of staff who has been checked. I doubt that applies to your friend. Checks also need to be done regularly as they're only correct up to the date they're done so someone could go out and commit a crime the day after their check and it wouldn't show (did I read that on MN? SOrry if I've stolen someone else's info!).

Yes I think you should report them to the Local Education Authority - I realise that this is a private school so might not come under their jurisdiction (??? - I just don't know), but they would be able to point you in the right direction. Perhaps you can report the issue without naming your friend and getting her embroiled in it.

I haven't read all the replies but yes, I think you ought to tell someone too.

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Gs, I disagree, Frieda isn't 'telling'on her friend, she's unhappy at the school's employment policy given that they haven't carried out the checks required of anyone working with children. (I thought these were legally required but maybe they're not. If they are I wonder who checks they've been done everywhere, anyone know?) If my child went to this school I'd probably have assumed (incorrectly) that all teachers had been police checked. I'd have thought teachers etc did have to give their consent to the check being done, I did when I was checked a couple of years ago but policy may have changed since then. Since the check can be quite instrusive (contacting your GP etc) I'd hope and expect that consent has to be given prior to the checks being carried out.

Frieda, I don't think you are a busybody, however, you need to handle it carefully in order not to make your friend think that you are accusing her of a crime. Also, I had to undergo a CRB check to join the Woodcraft Folk, and it only takes 2 weeks if you have a clear history of addresses, so it is not something your friend would have any reason to object to. However, as a mother I think that the CRB test is not good enough and plenty of criminals would be able to get around it, ie the type of people who are always changing their rented address and using different names and opening and closing bank accounts. I would expect anyone minding ds to have had a CRB check but I would also be interviewing them personally and asking awkward questions before trusting them.

Frieda - are you sure she hasn't had a police check? Her details may have been submitted for a police check - you are not physically interviewed by the police. To be honest I think there is little you can do as you do not have a child at the school. However, could you raise a question with your local councillor - might they be able to look into it - private school or not?

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I still disagree with you GS. This isn't paranoia, this is legitimate concern over the people who work closely with our children. No, I don't think everyone is suspect or incompetent (and didn't suggest they were), but I do think it's entirely reasonable (pre or post Huntley) to check teachers etc for previous convictions.

I don't believe that anyone could question this as paranoia.

For me the Soham case has highlighted the problem but hasn't caused mass hysteria. The fact is that your friend probably (I don't know her or you) has a cystal clear record and history but if she has 'slipped through the net' (although it sounds like there is legally no net to speak of) then it makes me wonder who else has and what their history is ?

GreenSanta/Dadslib - I understand where you are coming from but wouldn't you be concerned about the above if your son was school aged ?

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I've had mine done last year through my job, but also given a copy to the school as I do some voluntary work there.

Along with filling in forms detailing names/previous addresses you also have to provide documents - mine needed my passport, driving licence, birth certificate and marriage certificate.

The CRB checks are set at different levels - mine is an "Enhanced" as I do have unsupervised contact with children.

My Mum volunteered as a classroom helper at my nephews school, and she and another grandma were asked to teach a cookery class once a week, unsupervised by f/t or qualified staff. They were given no Health and Safety training, and not asked to adhere to any school policies. Certainly no police checks. This all came to a head when my mum thought the other woman was telling the children (aged 5)to do things which were hazardous (standing on chairs dropping pasta into boiling water with a splash), and using racist terms in conversation. This is a state primary with a good reputation and a good Ofsted report.

Sorry, Frieda, doesn't address your dilemma, except to say that we assume an awful lot about Duty of Care, and your friends case may be a drop in the ocean.

Frieda, it is imperative that all school staff, teaching and ancillary,are police checked. They do not do it themselves, it is standard procedure conducted by the school and LEA. As a teacher, I was security checked as a matter of course as soon as I started teaching 11 years ago, but I recently underwent another one as I help on my church creche.
Sadly, what you have said is very typical of a lot of the smaller private schools which are independent of the LEA.They can be very lax in security measures and will also frequently employ people to teach who are not qualified teachers, usually because they can pay them less.They sometimes won't even give these teachers contracts - I could tell some terrible stories!It's a bit of an old boys/girls network scenario in certain schools.I would report the matter immediately.

Thanks for all your replies, folks. Just to let you know, I called the ISCIS to see what they said. Unfortunately the school wasn't registered with them (it's a very small one). However, all private schools are answerable to the dept of Education and have certain standards to adhere to, and naturally child protection is a key part of this. The woman I spoke to suggested I called the Dept of Education Independent Schools regulators and ask them to investigate. The proprietor of any independent school has a legal duty of care to ensure police checks are carried out.
I do understand your concerns, Green Santa, but frankly, as a parent I'd be absolutely horrified if I discovered my child was going to a school which didn't carry out basic checks on their staff. Sorry, but I feel there's no excuse for not asking for references or following up when you're in a position of care over other people's children. Yes, I'm sure my friend is fine, but as someone here suggested, what about the next person?
Anyway, I've done it now. The Dept of Ed says they will follow up confidentially. My friend may end up hating me for stirring things up, but in the end, I think it's the children's interests which come first. I'd like to think someone would do the same in the case my child's school if something similar came to light.

Frieda i think you've done the right thing and as you say, if someone found out something about my dd's school(to be), i just hope they'd be as concientious as you Well done