Teachers’ Rights and Responsibilities

… becoming a Professional

Kate GreenSeptember 2013

Teacher fired for imposing discipline wins hearing

It must rate as one of the more vulgar and indecorous moments of misconduct witnessed in a British classroom. During a science lesson with a class of bottom-set 13-year-olds at Collegiate High School in Blackpool, one girl, a known troublemaker, threw herself into the lap of a startled girl sitting nearby and began simulating a lewd sex act.  Her teacher, David Roy, was horrified. When the youngster finally stood up, she wandered around the classroom, disrupting the lesson. Eventually she slumped down upon a table, turning her back on her teacher.

Mr Roy was not prepared to talk to the girl’s back. Nor was he willing to let her disrupt the class. “So I moved the table, which was big and heavy, and in a dramatic gesture — what I would call an exaggerated fashion — she fell off,” he explains.

When the school’s deputy head looked into the episode, which happened in September 2008, he exonerated Mr Roy of any wrongdoing. And there the matter should have rested. Instead, it would become the first salvo in a campaign that ultimately cost the science master his job.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Teacher reprimanded for accidentally showing porn to pupils                                                               

A TEACHER will be allowed to continue in his career after accidentally showing a pornographic movie to pupils during a lesson in a school. Port Talbot comprehensive school teacher James Cooney, aged 35, used his own personal computer to show an educational film - but a blue movie flashed up instead. A disciplinary hearing in Cardiff was told the class of 11 and 12-year-old pupils saw "graphic sexual images" in the film.

Families of the shocked children said they only saw a few seconds of the film before Mr Cooney realised his mistake - and pulled the plug on his laptop.

The teacher was using his own laptop when the DVD player in the classroom failed to work during the incident in February, 2008.

Mr Cooney was sent home as an investigation was launched at Sandfields Comprehensive.

He later resigned after talks with schools officials from Neath Port Talbot Council.Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Source: www.express.co.uk

What are the “new rules” for teachers?

Any ideas?

They are rooted in the new Teachers’ Standards that apply to all Teachers, NQTs – and you – Trainee Teachers too!

A teacher is expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct. The

following statements define the behaviour and attitudes which set the required standard for conduct throughout

a teacher’s career.

• Teachers must have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the

school in which they teach, and maintain high standards in their own attendance and punctuality.

• Teachers must have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frameworks which

set out their professional duties and responsibilities.

• Teachers uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within

and outside school, by:

• treating pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing

proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position

• • having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’

well-being, in accordance with statutory provisions•

•showing tolerance of and respect for the rights of others

• not undermining fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual

liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

• ensuring that personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils’ vulnerability or might lead

them to break the law.

Having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being, in accordance with statutory provisions

• Take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children

• Follow the school’s child protection policies and procedures

• Establish and maintain appropriate professional boundaries

• Use appropriate channels to raise concerns about the practice of other teachers or professionals

• Shocking Truths!

• 173 child deaths reported to Ofsted between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009. One child a week dies through neglect or abuse in England

• 80% of children who are killed or seriously injured as a result of abuse or neglect are not subject to child protection plans

• 20,758 sexual offences against children recorded in 2008 (latest figures available shortly for 2009)

• Most of these offences are committed by perpetrators known by the children

• Most of these offenders are men

• “The welfare of the child is the paramount consideration in proceedings concerning children”

• We ALL have responsibility for Child Protection

Look at the following situation. Is it clearly abuse? Is it a concern? Is it clearly not abuse?

A child lives in a home with dog mess on the floor and littered with used needles from drug use

You are aware that a child in Year 7 is responsible for looking after their younger siblings and preparing dinner whilst mum is at work until 9:00 every night

You observe a boy doodling and making sexually explicit images all over his work book

Girls in Year 10 contact the new, young male teacher at

that school to join their Facebook group to chat about

physics. He is flattered and accepts

• If you suspect a child is being abused:

• - report your concerns to the CPLO ( Not through your mentor – ask who CPLO is if very new to the school)

• - observe confidentiality – don’t disclose to others

• - the CPLO will follow through and disclose any information back on a need to know basis only

• Child Protection issue is to be treated sensitively and confidentially, observing the needs of the pupil

• If a child discloses to you:

• Stay calm and reassuring

• Make no promises to keep what the child tells you secret

• Listen carefully

• Tell the child they are not to blame

• Do not press for detail

• Reassure the child they were right to tell

• Explain there are other people you will have to contact

• Record conversation in child’s own words

• Record the facts as stated to you

• Sign and date the records you make

• DO NOT:

• Do not ask leading questions

• Do not make promises you cannot keep

• Do not jump to conclusions

• Do not speculate or accuse anyone

• Do not pass judgements – remember to be aware of your emotional and verbal expressions

• Do not cross-examine the child, only clarify the detail

• REMEMBER:

• Record the facts

• Record the words of the child

• Sign and date the record

• Contact the CPLO

• It is not your responsibility to decide if the allegation is true or not

• It is your duty to report to the CPLO

• Make sure you find space to discuss your own feelings with others

• NSPCC mantra: Respond, Report, Record.

Teachers must have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frameworks which set out their professional duties and responsibilities.

• Base their practice on knowledge of their subject areas and specialisms, and make use of research about teaching and learning

• Make use of assessment techniques, set appropriate and clear learning objectives, plan activities and employ a range of teaching methodologies

• Reflect on their practice and use feedback from colleagues

Treating pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position

• Uphold children and young people’s rights

• Listen to young people, and involve them in decisions that affect them

• Have high expectations of all young people, whatever their background or aptitudes

• Communicate clear expectations about pupil behaviour to ensure disruption to learning is minimised and children and young people feel safe and secure

• Be careful:

• Observing the need for confidentiality when talking to pupils needs to be balanced

against any risk to your safety.

• Try and talk to children in a space in which you are normally found (classroom, outside

a staff room, workbase)

• Always keep a door ajar when talking to pupils alone

• Check there are other members of staff in reasonable distance

• Do not offer lifts home or to contact pupils outside school hours (outside of use of

school VLE for work purposes)

• Try not to put yourself in situations where you are alone with pupils and where the

situation could be misconstrued.

BE REALLY CAREFUL!:

•Reasonable force can be tricky…..Some teenage pupils are bigger than

you!

•Call for help – use senior staff

•Make yourself familiar with the school’s written behaviour policy in order to understand what’s “reasonable”.

•Take deep breathes, few occasions genuinely command physical

intervention

•You cause injury to pupils unnecessarily and you will be subject to complaint

•JOIN A UNION – support, advice, guidance, collegiality.

Showing tolerance of and respect for the rights of others

• Act appropriately towards all children and young people, parents, carers and colleagues, whatever their socio-economic background, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion or belief

• Take responsibility for understanding and complying with school policies relating to equality of opportunity, inclusion, access and bullying

• Address unlawful discrimination, bullying, and stereotyping

• Teachers must have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which they teach, and maintain high

standards in their own attendance and punctuality.

• Exercise their responsibilities in relation to the examination and assessment of achievement and attainment in a fair, transparent and honest way

• Demonstrate honesty and integrity in management and administrative duties, including in the use of school property and finance

• Understand that their duty to safeguard children and young people comes first, but otherwise acknowledge the rights of young people, families, and colleagues to confidentiality

• Maintain reasonable standards in their own behaviour that enable them to maintain an effective learning environment and also to uphold public trust and confidence in the profession

Relevance to training“Training providers must notify the relevant authorities if trainees are

required to leave a programme for reasons of misconduct or they choose to discontinue their studies in circumstances in which they could have been required to leave.”

Criminal convictionsPolice reports of any conviction or caution of a teacher are sent to the

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

“Isolated Road Traffic Offences would not normally be considered as behaviour incompatible with being a registered teacher,” but relevant offences include:

• Benefit fraud

• Indecent assault

• Threatening or disorderly behaviour

• Unlawful wounding

Misconduct punished by NCTL• Swearing at pupils and calling them by offensive names

• Making a racist remark to pupils

• Endangering pupils through instructing them to undertake inappropriate manual handling

• Failing to safeguard the health and safety of pupils by not taking reasonable steps to ensure they remained on school premises

• Intimidating a child with special educational needs

• Deliberately undermining the authority of the head teacher and staff colleagues

Misconduct punished by NCTL• Sending a letter to parents of children in a class, which was seriously

in breach of the school’s policy and guidelines with regard to communications with parents and children

• Falsifying coursework and moderating marks submitted for a GCSE examination

• Persistent failure to co-operate with arrangements for furthering the educational progress of pupils with special educational needs, including by the submission of Annual Review documentation

• Providing unauthorised photocopies of examination papers to students at a private tutorial college

Misconduct punished by NCTL• Theft of school property

• Submission of false mileage expenses

• Using school administrative staff and facilities for private interests

• Using school equipment to view pornography

• Falsifying a reference for a teaching post

• Misrepresenting the pattern of past employment on a teaching application form.

E-safety• In addition to safeguarding, Teachers must also ensure

the safety of pupils on-line…..

Why worry about E-safety….?

Half (49%) of young people questioned say they have given out personal information, such as their full names, ages, email addresses, phone numbers, hobbies or names of their schools, to someone they met on the internet.

By contrast, only 5% of parents think their child has given out such information. (Source: UK Children Go Online.)

The 3 Cs of E-safety…..

Jenny’s Story…..

Jenny’s Story illustrates one of the dangers to children when using the internet: that of online grooming, which could lead to physical harm. Grooming is defined by the Home Office as:

‘A course of conduct enacted by a suspected paedophile, which would give a reasonable person cause for concern that any meeting with a child arising from the conduct would be for unlawful purposes.’

The full DVD of Jenny’s Story is available to view on Blackboard.

Discussion Points….• Why might young people behave differently online from

offline? * How might young people put each other at risk online? * Other than contact with strangers, what are the other areas of risk to young people posed by the internet? * What advice could we give young people to help them keep safe online? * What would make a young person reluctant to tell an adult about something which made them feel uncomfortable on the internet? * What can a school do to keep children safe on the internet? * Are younger children more or less vulnerable? *

And finally…..• Remember that most children who form online friendships with

peers typically report a positive experience. There are wonderful, exciting ways of using the internet positively (including for homework!). For examples of how young people have used the internet to express themselves in positive ways, visit the Childnet Academy website. http://www.childnetacademy.org

General e-safety information sites for trainee teachers: • .

And courses you could take:• NSPCC online course (£25) at

http://platinum.educare.co.uk/Products/180-nspcc-child-protection-awareness.aspx

• Free HSCB Safeguarding Children eLearning course. See Blackboard (in Professional Themes area) or final slide of this presentation for full details.

These enhance your CV when applying for jobs – and are especially beneficial if you’re interested in the pastoral route for promotion.

HSCB On-line Safeguarding Course details:•  1.  Go to http://www.my.dialog360.com

•  2.  In the 'New Users' box enter the course enrolment key msov449z and click the login button

• 3.  Enter your registration details and click the floppy disc icon to save your details   

• 4.  Start the course 

•  5. Once registered, you have one month to begin the course. If not started within this time your registration will be deleted and you will need  to  apply again.  

•  6. Once started you will have six months to complete the course before your registration is deleted.