This item was first published on the F.A.C.T. website on 13th December
Responding to the debate on proposed new legislation to protect teachers accused of abuse by their pupils, the Chair of the General Teaching Council, Judy Moorhouse, said:
“The General Teaching Council is the independent, professional body for teaching with responsibility for ensuring that standards of professional conduct are upheld and the public interest safeguarded. The overwhelming imperative is to protect the safety and welfare of children and to ensure that genuine cases of harm are prevented or detected.
“We believe that allegations involving the possible abuse of pupils need to be handled as fairly and promptly as possible. The public interest does not require the naming of a teacher before they have been charged with a criminal offence. It can be extremely professionally damaging as well as personally distressing.”
The GTC is in the process of being consulted by the DfES on procedures for handling these difficult cases. The Council supports the suggestion that teachers under investigation by the police but who have not been charged with a criminal offence should not be identified to the press. This is an important safeguard to protect the position of those who may be innocent or where there is insufficient evidence to support a charge. The GTC also wants to see procedures reformed to ensure that cases are resolved as quickly as possible in the interests of all involved.