Sex offenders working in schools
The education secretary has commissioned an "exhaustive review" into cases of sex offenders being allowed to work with children.
Ruth Kelly is facing mounting criticism over the decision by her department to allow a registered sex offender to work as a PE teacher.
A review is under way into the case of Paul Reeve, who had been cautioned for accessing banned images of children, and the possibility that there may have been other mistakes made by ministers and officials.
Admitting that she could not say how many sex offenders were working with children, the education secretary insisted she would act to make children safe.
"Protecting children is our number one priority. We have got to get it right and it is vital for public confidence in the system," Kelly told reporters.
"It is for that reason and because of the case that was raised this week that I have commissioned an exhaustive review of all the cases and decisions that have been made since the sex offenders register was introduced in 1997."
"I have also announced immediate steps that I am going to consider to tighten up the system, including for example, trying to make sure as closely as we possibly can, that everyone who is placed on the sex offenders register is also barred from working with children for life," she said.
"And also whether we can take police advice and incorporate that more fully in the decision making process.
"I also want to make it absolutely clear that I accept full responsibility for every decision that has been made in the department."
Opposition Response: Conservatives
Shadow education secretary David Willetts said: "We now need to know as a matter of urgency how many such cases there have been, and whether heads were made aware they were employing someone on the sex offenders' register.
"It seems from her statement that she is now trying to shift responsibility to others by saying that from now on she will consider cases personally.
"We still need to know if she personally took the decision about Mr Reeve, or if not, which minister or official was acting in her name.
"We still need straight answers to the questions I put to her on Monday, instead of more ducking and diving.
"This is not a matter of party politics. It will concern every parent across the country."
Opposition Response: The Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrat education spokesman Edward Davey said: "This serious lapse of judgement by Ruth Kelly has exposed an extremely worrying state of affairs.
"Many people will be shocked that this type of decision is taken by a minister and not an expert group. Parents will want to know there is going to be better collaboration between government departments in future."
Commenting on the continuing debate about the apparent omission of a sex offender from the DfES list 99, Chris Keates, general secretary of NASUWT, the largest Union representing teachers and headteachers throughout the
"Experience has shown that issues such as these are never as simple or straightforward as they may appear at first.
"However, the continuing public debate, with sweeping generalisations being made wrongly implying the employment of sex offenders in schools may be widespread, is now in danger of undermining the confidence parents are entitled to have that their children are in safe hands when in school.
"It is, therefore, important that the Secretary of State proceeds immediately to conduct and conclude the review she has announced.
"But in doing so she must resist the calls simply to abandon List 99 in favour of one general list. List 99 is not just a register of those who may pose a risk to children.
"It also includes people who have serious health problems.
"Over the years List 99 procedures have proved a robust way of regulating the profession and any changes need to be thought through in a calm and measured way."
Stakeholder Response: General Teaching Council
Commenting on the announcement of the review, GTC chief executive Carol Adams says: "I welcome the decision to conduct a review of the current operation of List 99 and how it should be aligned with the sex offenders register.
"We will help in any way we can. It is vitally important that effective systems are in place that safeguard children.
"These must be clear and well understood.
"Although the GTC does not have jurisdiction over cases where a teacher may pose a risk to children’s safety, we work very closely with the DfES to make sure that we always have an up to date record of teachers who have been barred by the Secretary of State through the List 99 procedure."
Stakeholder Response: ASCL
Commenting on the secretary of state’s decision to establish an inquiry into the small number of cases of teachers on the sex offenders register who have not been placed on List 99, Dr John Dunford, ASCL general secretary, said: "I welcome this inquiry. Heads need to have full information on how the List 99 system works and the criteria for deciding whether to a teacher on it or not.
"This Association advises heads always to err on the side of caution in appointing teachers if they have doubts about their background.
"The recent case in
Stakeholder Response: NUT
Steve Sinnott, NUT general secretary, said:"Common sense says that anyone who is on the sex offenders register should not be allowed access to children by allowing them to work in schools. That is simple and straightforward. Children should not be put at risk where that risk is avoidable.
"Of course there have to be safeguards to prevent the wrong person being banned from teaching by inclusion on List 99. But there is a difference between checking to ensure there is no miscarriage of justice and making a decision that allows a registered sex offender into our schools.
"Many sex offenders have themselves been abused in childhood and they deserve some sympathy and help to overcome the damage that has done. But that does not mean that today's generation of children should be exposed to risk which would only ensure that cycle of damage continued."
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