What other pre-appointment checks are necessary in the School sector?

Part three of the Department for Education’s statutory guidance for schools and colleges, “Keeping Children Safe in Education” addresses “Safer recruitment” in the education setting.

Additional to your usual right to work checks, when appointing new staff, schools and colleges must usually:

• obtain (via the applicant) an enhanced DBS certificate (including barred list information, for those who will be engaging in regulated activity)
• obtain a separate barred list check if an individual will start work in regulated activity before the DBS certificate is available
• verify the candidate’s mental and physical fitness to carry out their work responsibilities
• if the person has lived or worked outside the UK, make any further checks the school or college consider appropriate
• verify professional qualifications, as appropriate. The Teacher Services’ system should be used to verify any award of qualified teacher status (QTS), and the completion of teacher induction or probation.