Teacher protection

The Tories have warned that teachers' careers can be ruined by false allegations.

 

Teachers accused of abusing pupils should be given anonymity to spare them from malicious claims, says the party.

 

Party Response: Conservatives

 

Tim Collins, shadow education secretary, said: "Teachers are harassed, insulted, and attacked every day in our schools.One is assaulted every seven minutes.Yet the scales of justice are weighted terribly against them.   

 

"If a teacher tries to restrain a violent and disruptive pupil or break up a fight, he may face suspension or even the end of his career. If a child chooses to utter the word ‘abuse’, the teacher will face a presumption of guilt not innocence - and may find their professional and personal lives utterly ruined.    

 

"The vast majority of teachers accused of abuse are subsequently cleared - but the strain and stress involved, which often includes being spat at in the street and having homes and cars attacked, means that the incidence of suicide among teachers facing this vile accusation is alarmingly high.

 

"It is hardly surprising in these circumstances that discipline in our schools is declining just as rapidly as stress levels among teachers reaches record highs.  How can anyone impose order in our classrooms if they know that any single child uttering one single word could finish their careers?

 

"What is needed is immediate legislation to give teachers a statutory guarantee that their anonymity will be preserved, at least until the point when a formal criminal charge is brought in a court of law.  

 

"Ministers sadly refuse to act on this persistent demand from the teaching unions, choosing instead to rely solely on guidelines from the Association of Chief Police Officers and a voluntary agreement with local newspapers. This will not give teachers remotely the protections they need.

 

"In the Queen's Speech, the government introduced several pieces of legislation which could provide the vehicle for this statutory guarantee. If they continue to refuse to act to protect teachers from this most damaging and frightening position, the next Conservative government will do so in our very first Queen's Speech as part of our Teacher Protection Bill."

 

Party Response: Liberal Democrats

 

Phil Willis, Lib Dem education spokesman, said: "Teachers accused in such cases should not be identified and risk having their photographs splashed over the papers before charges are laid.

 

"All too often teachers are accused of actions which later prove to be either malicious or exaggerated but the damage done to career or personal integrity can last a lifetime."

 

Stakeholder Response: NASUWT

 

Chris Keates, general secretary of NASUWT, said: "NASUWT has campaigned for years for recognition of the fact that teachers are vulnerable to false, malicious and exaggerated allegations by pupils.

 

"Such claims devastate the lives of teachers and their families. Careers are ruined and tragically lives can be lost. Trauma and stress is often  increased by the inordinate amount of time  taken to investigate the allegation. This in turn increases the risk of public exposure in the media.

 

"I welcome the recognition by the government and the Conservative Party of the validity of the NASUWT’s call for greater protection for teachers, including anonymity for those accused.

 

"I hope that both parties can now unite in their common concern behind measures which will see  this injustice rectified without further delay."

 

Stakeholder Response: Professional Association of Teachers

 

A PAT spokesperson said: "At PAT's 2004 annual conference, members debated and carried the motion 'Conference calls for the introduction of basic safeguards and rights for teachers, and all other persons involved in child welfare and education, who are accused of assaulting pupils'. 

 

"Since that conference, PAT has raised the issue with both the DfES in Westminster and the Welsh Assembly Government.

 

"There needs to be a fair balance between the rights of the individual accused and the interests of the child. PAT believes that children should be protected, but also that those who work with children deserve protection too.

 

"If accused of assaulting pupils, teachers and support staff should have a right to anonymity at least until they are charged with a criminal offence.  

 

"People don't always appreciate the devastating effects malicious accusations can have. All too often we see newspaper articles about accusations made against teachers but very little or no media coverage when they are subsequently cleared.

 

"When accusations have been made against PAT members, the vast majority have been shown to be without foundation."

 

Stakeholder Response: Institute of Education

 

Sara Bubb, senior lecturer at the Institute of Education and specialist in the induction and professional development of teachers, said: "There is nothing easy about protecting teachers who are accused of abuse by their pupils and Tim Collins is being sensationalist in linking false allegations to lack of ‘order’ and ‘discipline’ in schools.

 

"It is obvious that having false allegations made against one is extremely upsetting. There can be irrevocable damage to a teacher’s career even when proved innocent, on the common assumption that there’s no smoke without fire. But the Conservative call for anonymity is impractical as well as legally tricky - schools and communities are full of people and news travels fast.

 

"The present DfES consultation on reducing the investigation time will help the situation but more important is to give the people on the ground (the headteachers, governors and LEAs) more training and discretion in using professional judgment about how to handle issues.

 

"The present practice of having to escort teachers who are the subject of allegations off the premises and suspend them from work on full pay is not always helpful or necessary and has a damaging impact on the individuals, schools and classes affected.

 

"Pupils, parents and everyone working in schools would benefit from a greater understanding of their legal rights and responsibilities - and the consequences of any allegations."