Single Central Record Checklist background

The legislation concerning single central records for schools and colleges in the UK was drawn up to help educational institutions safeguard the welfare of the children in their charge. By ensuring that all employees are thoroughly vetted during the recruitment process, your school can provide the maximum protection possible for each and every one of its pupils. You will also remain in full compliance with government regulations.

The concept and aims of the single central record system are well understood by education professionals in the United Kingdom but to help you ensure that complacency does not cause standards to slip. In this article we have outlined a few of the most common mistakes that school administrative departments make with regards to the operation and maintenance of their single central records.

Single Central Record Checklist - the most common mistakes

• Giving One Member of Staff Sole Responsibility of the single central record.  This might sound like a good idea in theory but in practice, you will find it much easier to maintain your school SCR if several members of staff are involved in its administration. The main problem with tasking a single member of staff with the job of maintaining your single central record is that no other staff members will have the knowledge and experience to take over the job in the event that person is absent or decides to leave.
• Omitting the Date of Checks and Enquiries.  In order to remain in compliance with SCR regulations, you need to make sure that the date of each check made and certificate obtained is noted in the single central record. These dates must be accurate: your school could run into difficulties in the event that mistakes or inaccuracies are discovered during an SCR audit.
• School have missing data such as DBS disclosure numbers, issue/evidenced by dates, recording the issue dates only.
• Some schools renew checks and find it hard to keep on track of renewal dates.
• Schools failing to carry out List 99 Checks on Staff commencing work at the school before their DBS has been disclosed.
• Failure to Record Prohibition from Teaching Checks - When Keeping Children Safe in Education (2015) was published, schools were to back date this check for permanent teaching staff from 1^st April 2012, the facility to carry out the check became available in 2014 for schools by logging into Secure Access – Teacher Regulation Agency.
• Failure to Record Section 128 Checks for Governors in Maintained Schools- When Keeping Children Safe in Education (2018) was published, schools were reminded that the s128 order applies to maintained schools as well as independent schools (including academies and free schools).
• Overseas criminal record checks and EEA Checks if applicable not being carried out.
• Qualifications not being recorded were applicable.
• Failing to carry out QTS Checks on members of staff with a TRN number.
• Failing to record Right to Work or evidencing ID documents seen.

Our online SCR software solution is the easiest way to avoid administrative errors and omissions where your single central record is concerned.

Tel: 0151 606 5101 – info@onlinescr.co.uk

A Section 128 check checks the names of individuals who have been barred from partaking in the management of any independent school (including academies and free schools). This is directly according to the terms of a direction made by the Secretary of State for Education. Those who are prohibited are therefore unable to participate in any management of an independent school.

Can I carry out a Section 128 check on my staff?

The following staff are considered to be in management positions:

• headteachers;
• all staff on the senior leadership team (including non-teaching);
• teaching positions with departmental headship;
• proprietors;

The above positions are eligible for the check.  Please note that there is no specific definition available for ‘departmental headship’. Inspectors should, therefore, check that the school takes a reasonable approach in the context.

How do I apply for the Section 128 check?

Section 128 checks can be ordered here. We will need the applicants full name and date of birth.

When will I receive the results?

Orders received before 2.30pm will normally be processed within the same working day, whilst those received after this time will be processed on the next working day. The results of the checks are sent out by email as soon as a result has been attained. If you require results urgently, we offer the Fast Track service which guarantees a result within 2 hours of receipt of the order if made between 9am-3pm weekdays (excludes Bank Holidays).

What will the Section 128 check results show?

1. ‘Clear’ – this means that the applicant can start work, subject to other necessary checks being conducted.
2. If there is a match, management of an independent school is prohibited and we will contact you immediately to provide the relevant guidance.

Interested in safer recruitment for your staff?

OnlineSCR provides Section 128 checks as well as Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Prohibition from Teaching, Children’s Barred List checks (List 99) and European Economic Area (EEA) checks at a competitive price.

Contact us today to start checking your staff!

See below 5 essential checks you must perform before employing a new teacher.

If you want your school to arm children with the skills they need to thrive later in life, you need to employ fully qualified, experienced and passionate teachers with the correct checks..

However, while checking for teacher’s credentials is crucial, there are other pre-employment checks you need to carry out. The easiest way to make sure a teacher is eligible to work at your school is to invest in a Single Central Record, which can not only perform the relevant checks but also store all your information in one place.

1. DBS Check

Carrying out an enhanced DBS check on new teachers is an Ofsted requirement. It is designed to protect children by preventing unsuitable candidates from entering the workforce. If an individual fails the DBS check, they will be on the children’s barred list, which means they are not allowed to work with young people. Hiring anybody on the children’s barred list is prohibited.

2. European Economic Area (EEA) Check

EEA checks help you find out whether a teacher who gained their qualifications in any EEA-member state has received any restrictions regarding teaching. EEA countries include EU-member states as well as Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

3. Prohibition Check

Prohibition checks must be carried out as part of the pre-employment checking process according to ISI and Ofsted requirements. This check ensures candidate teachers are not prohibited from teaching.

4. Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) Checks

The Qualified Teacher Status Check is concerned with making sure the teacher you want to hire is actually qualified to teach according to the minimum qualification requirements in England and Wales.

5. Section 128 Checks

The Section 128 check is essential because it will tell you whether a candidate has been barred from taking part in the management of any independent school (including free schools and academies).

Single Central Record can complete any of the educational recruitment checks above within 24 hours, as well as provide you with a system to keep all the checks updated and in one place.

 

Call us now to learn more!