Details of a forthcoming hearing will be published on the Department's website five working days before it is due to take place.

Members of the press and the public are able to attend professional conduct panel hearings held by the National College for Teaching and Leadership and a small number of observer places are available for this purpose. If you wish to attend as an observer, you are asked to contact the National College for Teaching and Leadership (for members of the public) or the Department's central newsdesk (for journalists). Should you not do so in advance of the hearing date, the National College for Teaching and Leadership cannot guarantee your place as an observer.

Unless stated otherwise, all hearings listed will be held at the National College for Teaching and Leadership in Coventry.

When attending a hearing, observers are asked to bear in mind the following points:

  • Hearings are subject to sudden cancellation or postponement. Those travelling long distances are advised to confirm that a hearing is still taking place by telephoning the National College for Teaching and Leadership on or shortly before the day of the hearing.
  • The Human Rights Act entitles individuals to a public hearing. However the panel may exclude the public and press from hearing or part of a hearing where:
    • it believes that a public hearing may adversely affect the fairness of the proceedings;
    • it is necessary to protect children’s interests;
    • either party requests that the hearing be in private and the panel is satisfied that this is not contrary to the public interest. The panel will consider any such request on the day of the hearing.
  • Where all or any part of a hearing is held in private, this will not be open to observers.

All enquiries from members of the press should be made to the central newsdesk.

Further details can be found in the 'information for hearing observers' guidance. 

This information is general, and, in all circumstances, The Teachers’ Disciplinary (England) Regulations 2012, under which the Teaching Agency operates the regulatory arrangements on behalf of the Secretary of State, take precedence.

Contact details

Central newsdesk
Organisation type: Other
for media enquiries
Telephone: 020 7783 8300