If you're responsible for safer recruitment at your school, you already know that a DBS check is non-negotiable. But there's another check that's equally required under Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) — and it's one that gets missed far more often.
The QTS check. And unlike a DBS check, it's not confirming criminal history. It's confirming something entirely different: that the person standing in front of your pupils has actually achieved the teaching standards required to do the job.
In this guide, we'll cover exactly what a QTS check is, who needs one, why it's a legal requirement, and how to make sure it's recorded correctly in your Single Central Record.
A QTS check verifies whether an individual holds Qualified Teacher Status — the professional qualification required to teach in maintained schools and many other state-funded schools in England.
Qualified Teacher Status is awarded by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), the government body responsible for the regulation of the teaching profession. A QTS check confirms, via the TRA, that the individual has successfully completed an approved teacher training programme and met the required Teachers' Standards.
It's worth being clear about what a QTS check is not:
Each of these is a separate, standalone requirement. A QTS check confirms one specific thing: that the individual is a qualified teacher.
The requirement to verify Qualified Teacher Status comes from Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), the statutory safeguarding guidance that all schools and colleges in England must follow.
KCSIE sets out the pre-employment checks that must be completed and recorded before a new member of staff begins work. For fully qualified teaching staff, verifying QTS is among those required checks, and the result must be recorded in the school's Single Central Record. The timing of when this check must be in place can vary depending on the individual's situation — for example, a trainee teacher working towards QTS is treated differently to a fully qualified teacher — so schools should refer to the current version of KCSIE for guidance relevant to their specific circumstances.
Failing to complete and record a QTS check is not just an administrative oversight — it's a safeguarding gap. When Ofsted arrives for an inspection, the SCR is typically one of the first documents reviewed. A missing QTS check will be identified, and the conversation that follows won't be straightforward.
A QTS check is required for all teachers employed in:
Since September 2012, academies and free schools have been required to employ teachers who hold QTS (or are working towards it). QTS is a mandatory requirement across state-funded schools in England. Schools should refer to the most current version of KCSIE and DfE guidance to confirm requirements for their specific setting, as statutory guidance is updated regularly.
There are some limited exceptions — for example, certain subject specialists or instructors in specific roles may not be required to hold QTS. However, for the vast majority of classroom teachers in state-funded schools, QTS verification is a mandatory pre-employment check.
This is where many schools run into confusion — and it's important to get right.
A QTS check confirms the individual has achieved Qualified Teacher Status. It answers the question: has this person qualified as a teacher?
A prohibition check (also called a teacher prohibition order check) confirms whether the individual has been prohibited from teaching by the Secretary of State. It answers the question: has this person been banned from the classroom?
Both checks are required under KCSIE. Both must be recorded in the Single Central Record. But they are completely different checks, run separately, confirming entirely different things about the individual.
A DBS check will not show you either of these. Assuming that a clear DBS certificate covers your QTS or prohibition obligations is one of the most common safer recruitment mistakes schools make — and one of the most consequential.
QTS checks are carried out via the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA). The TRA maintains the database of teachers who hold QTS, and schools can check an individual's status through the TRA's Check a Teacher's Record service.
The process involves:
It's also worth noting that a QTS check via the TRA's Check a Teacher's Record service will simultaneously allow you to check for teacher prohibition orders, making it efficient to complete multiple required checks in one place.
With OnlineSCR, QTS and prohibition checks can be ordered directly from within the platform. Results are automatically recorded into your SCR, removing the need for manual data entry and reducing the risk of gaps at the point of inspection.
Once a QTS check has been completed, the outcome must be recorded in your school's Single Central Record. The SCR is the central log of all pre-employment checks carried out on staff and volunteers, and it's the document Ofsted uses to assess the rigour of a school's safer recruitment process.
The SCR must show, for each applicable member of staff:
The record should be kept up to date and be immediately accessible at the point of inspection. Inspectors expect to be able to cross-reference the SCR against the staff list and confirm that all required checks have been completed for every applicable individual.
A common mistake is completing the check but failing to record it correctly — or recording it in a separate document rather than within the SCR itself. Both will be flagged during an Ofsted inspection.
If a QTS check is missing from the SCR at the time of an Ofsted inspection, the school will need to explain why. In most cases, the explanation is not deliberate non-compliance — it's confusion about which checks are required, or an assumption that another check covered the requirement.
Regardless of the reason, a missing check is a safeguarding concern. Depending on the number of gaps and the wider context of the inspection, it can affect judgements on leadership and management, and on the overall effectiveness of the school's safeguarding arrangements.
The good news is that this is entirely preventable. A robust pre-employment checklist, a well-maintained SCR, and a platform that prompts and records checks at the right time means these gaps simply don't happen.
A newly qualified teacher who has recently completed their training and been awarded QTS will appear on the TRA's records. Their QTS check should still be carried out in the same way as for any other teacher — confirmation of QTS status must be on record before they begin work.
For teachers who trained overseas or hold equivalent qualifications, the requirements differ. Schools employing teachers with overseas qualifications should check the relevant DfE guidance and, where applicable, verify that the individual has been granted QTS by the TRA (as overseas-trained teachers can apply for QTS recognition through the QTS application process).
No. A DBS check confirms criminal record history only. It says nothing about professional qualifications or teaching status. QTS verification must be carried out separately via the TRA's Check a Teacher's Record service.
Yes. If a supply teacher is employed directly by the school, QTS verification is required. If the teacher is employed through an agency, the agency is responsible for carrying out and providing evidence of the check — but the school must obtain written confirmation and record it in the SCR.
QTS checks via the TRA are typically quick — results can often be obtained in real time through the Check a Teacher's Record service. With OnlineSCR, the result is automatically logged in your SCR as soon as it's returned.
If a candidate does not hold QTS and the role requires it, they cannot be appointed. If the role does not require QTS (for example, an unqualified teacher or instructor role), this should be clearly defined, and the appropriate checks and records for that role type should be followed as per KCSIE guidance.
KCSIE guidance focuses on pre-employment checks, and QTS is awarded permanently once granted — it doesn't expire. However, your SCR should reflect the check that was carried out at the time of appointment. If a record is missing for an existing member of staff, it's advisable to carry out the check retrospectively and update the SCR accordingly.
Managing QTS checks manually — logging into the TRA service, recording outcomes, updating the SCR — takes time and creates opportunities for human error. When you're managing checks for multiple new starters across a busy term, the risk of something being missed increases significantly.
OnlineSCR integrates QTS and prohibition checks directly into the safer recruitment workflow. From within the platform, you can order checks at the click of a button, and results are automatically recorded in the SCR against the correct staff record. No manual entry. No separate spreadsheets. No gaps.
When Ofsted arrives and asks to see your Single Central Record, every check is there — dated, confirmed, and clearly recorded.
See how OnlineSCR helps schools stay compliant and inspection-ready — with QTS checks, prohibition checks, and your entire SCR in one place.
Book a Free Demo
