The National College for Teaching and Leadership, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, is responsible for investigating allegations of serious misconduct against teachers and headteachers in schools in England. If appropriate, the National College for Teaching and Leadership can prohibit the teacher, meaning the person concerned is not allowed to teach in schools, relevant youth accommodation and children’s homes in England.
How are cases referred?
Allegations of serious misconduct against a teacher may be referred to the National College for Teaching and Leadership by any of those listed below:
- a teacher’s employer, including an employment or supply agency, has a legal duty to consider whether to refer a case to the National College for Teaching and Leadership when they have dismissed a teacher for misconduct, or would have dismissed them had they not resigned first
- members of the public who think that a case of misconduct by a teacher is serious enough to warrant a prohibition order, although the National College for Teaching and Leadership will expect local procedures to have been exhausted before it will consider investigating the case
- the police, the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) and other regulators who are aware of relevant information.
A referral is appropriate if the alleged misconduct is so serious that it warrants a decision on whether the teacher should be prevented from teaching again. Cases of less serious misconduct, and all cases of incompetence, should be dealt with locally by employers. If an allegation is deemed to be such that the teacher should be prevented from teaching until their case has been fully investigated, the National College for Teaching and Leadership can impose an interim prohibition order until the case is concluded.
'The prohibition of teachers' document explains the types of misconduct and relevant offences that may lead to prohibition.
