What happens to the allegations received?
To help us understand better what happens to the different types of allegations referred to us about teachers, we have analysed them at the 4 main stages of our Fitness to Teach process:
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We have also looked at other aspects of cases including whether they relate to more recent or historic events, and whether they took place before or after a teacher became registered.
Cases closed at initial consideration stage
Almost half of the cases we receive about the conduct of teachers are closed at initial consideration. This is because we have reached the decision that what has been referred to us does not justify an investigation.
Just under half of the referrals closed at initial consideration relate to events that happened before a teacher was registered. We commonly get this information as part of the checks that we do at the time the individual applies for registration.
The information is usually self-declared by the teacher (24% of cases closed at initial consideration were self-referrals) or notification comes from Disclosure Scotland as part of the PVG Scheme checks that we do as part of our application process (19% of the cases closed at initial consideration were PVG certificate related referrals). Our analysis shows that in almost all of these cases (95%), the teacher admits what has been alleged.
Over half (52%) of the cases closed at initial consideration related to historic events; 38% related to events that happened more recently, within the last year. Exactly 50% of the cases closed at initial consideration were referred by members of the public.
Driving offence is the most common allegation category in cases closed at initial consideration (27%). This is followed by process/procedures (17%) and then verbal/physical aggression (15%).
Cases closed following investigation by officers
We close just over one-third (34%) of the cases we progress to investigation because we conclude that no further action is required, or no further action can be taken based on the evidence available. Our analysis shows that just under 30% of the cases closed at investigation stage were because we found that there was insufficient evidence available to us to prove what was alleged.
The most common allegation types for cases closed following investigation are verbal/physical aggression (29%), driving offence (14%), dishonesty (12%), and inappropriate behaviour/language (10%).
Our analysis has found that more cases closed at this stage relate to allegations that have occurred in the time the individual has been a teacher but there are still a significant proportion (33%) that occurred prior to the person joining the profession. Perhaps linked to this, just over half (52%) of the allegations related to events that had happened more than 1 year before the referral was made, rather than more recently.
Almost one-third (29.7%) of cases that concluded at this stage were self-referrals. Almost one-quarter (23.7%) were referrals from members of public and a further one-fifth (21.6%) were referred by employers.
In just over half (50.8%) of the cases closed at this stage, our analysis has found that the teacher fully or partially admitted what was alleged.
Cases closed at the panel consideration stage
Most (61.6%) of the cases that concluded at panel consideration stage resulted in some form of action.
Just over one-quarter (29.3%) resulted in either a Reprimand or a Reprimand and Conditional Registration Order (CRO) through the consent process. Almost one-quarter (24.6%) of cases resulted in removal from the Register of Teachers through the consent process.
Where action was not taken at this stage, in 45.5% of these cases it was because there was insufficient evidence available to us to prove what was alleged. In 27.3% of cases the panel reached the view that the teacher’s fitness to teach was not impaired. In just 4.5% of cases the panel reached the view that the referral was malicious or vexatious. In the remaining cases, the panel was of the view that the conduct alleged was not relevant to the teacher’s fitness to teach.
The most common allegations for cases that concluded at panel consideration stage related to processes/procedures (22%), verbal/physical aggression (18%), dishonesty (18%), and inappropriate behaviour/language (11%).
Most (82%) cases that concluded were related to more current events - the incident or behaviour had occurred within the year prior to referral.
Almost all (95%) cases that concluded at panel consideration stage related to incidents or behaviours that occurred when the teacher was registered.
Over half (56.2%) of cases that concluded at this stage were referred by employers and 16% were referred by members of the public.
Over two-thirds (67%) of registrants either fully or partially admitted the allegation(s) and most of these (81%) had done so at the time of the investigation. Just over one-quarter (28%) of registrants did not make a clear admission or denial.
Cases closed at hearing
Almost three-quarters (72.7%) of cases that progressed to a hearing concluded with some form of action. A significant proportion (40.7%) of cases concluded with a decision to remove the registrant from the Register. Just over one-quarter of cases concluded with a decision to apply a Reprimand (14.8%), Conditional Registration Order (CRO) (4.9%) or a combination of both Reprimand and CRO (8.6%). One-quarter of cases (25.9%) that concluded at the final hearing stage resulted in a decision of No Further Action.
The most common allegations for cases that progressed to a hearing related to dishonesty (35%), verbal/physical aggression (25%) and inappropriate behaviour/language (16%).
Most cases (81%) that concluded at hearing stage related to current allegations, where the behaviour or incident had occurred within the year prior to referral.
Most cases (89%) that concluded at this stage related to incidents or behaviours occurring while the teacher has been registered.
Most cases that concluded at this stage were referred by employers (80%). Member of the public referrals concluded at this stage made up 6% of cases.
In just under two-thirds of the cases analysed (61%), the registrants either fully or partially admitted the allegation(s). Just under one-quarter (23%) denied the allegations. A significant proportion (16%) did not submit a formal admission or denial. Almost half (44%) of registrants admitted the allegation during this final stage of the Fitness to Teach process. Half (49%) of registrants admitted the allegation(s) during either the GTC Scotland investigation or during panel consideration.
To help us understand better what happens to the different types of allegations referred to us about teachers, we have analysed them at the 4 main stages of our Fitness to Teach process:
{{highlight-01}}
We have also looked at other aspects of cases including whether they relate to more recent or historic events, and whether they took place before or after a teacher became registered.
Cases closed at initial consideration stage
Almost half of the cases we receive about the conduct of teachers are closed at initial consideration. This is because we have reached the decision that what has been referred to us does not justify an investigation.
Just under half of the referrals closed at initial consideration relate to events that happened before a teacher was registered. We commonly get this information as part of the checks that we do at the time the individual applies for registration.
The information is usually self-declared by the teacher (24% of cases closed at initial consideration were self-referrals) or notification comes from Disclosure Scotland as part of the PVG Scheme checks that we do as part of our application process (19% of the cases closed at initial consideration were PVG certificate related referrals). Our analysis shows that in almost all of these cases (95%), the teacher admits what has been alleged.
Over half (52%) of the cases closed at initial consideration related to historic events; 38% related to events that happened more recently, within the last year. Exactly 50% of the cases closed at initial consideration were referred by members of the public.
Driving offence is the most common allegation category in cases closed at initial consideration (27%). This is followed by process/procedures (17%) and then verbal/physical aggression (15%).
Cases closed following investigation by officers
We close just over one-third (34%) of the cases we progress to investigation because we conclude that no further action is required, or no further action can be taken based on the evidence available. Our analysis shows that just under 30% of the cases closed at investigation stage were because we found that there was insufficient evidence available to us to prove what was alleged.
The most common allegation types for cases closed following investigation are verbal/physical aggression (29%), driving offence (14%), dishonesty (12%), and inappropriate behaviour/language (10%).
Our analysis has found that more cases closed at this stage relate to allegations that have occurred in the time the individual has been a teacher but there are still a significant proportion (33%) that occurred prior to the person joining the profession. Perhaps linked to this, just over half (52%) of the allegations related to events that had happened more than 1 year before the referral was made, rather than more recently.
Almost one-third (29.7%) of cases that concluded at this stage were self-referrals. Almost one-quarter (23.7%) were referrals from members of public and a further one-fifth (21.6%) were referred by employers.
In just over half (50.8%) of the cases closed at this stage, our analysis has found that the teacher fully or partially admitted what was alleged.
Cases closed at the panel consideration stage
Most (61.6%) of the cases that concluded at panel consideration stage resulted in some form of action.
Just over one-quarter (29.3%) resulted in either a Reprimand or a Reprimand and Conditional Registration Order (CRO) through the consent process. Almost one-quarter (24.6%) of cases resulted in removal from the Register of Teachers through the consent process.
Where action was not taken at this stage, in 45.5% of these cases it was because there was insufficient evidence available to us to prove what was alleged. In 27.3% of cases the panel reached the view that the teacher’s fitness to teach was not impaired. In just 4.5% of cases the panel reached the view that the referral was malicious or vexatious. In the remaining cases, the panel was of the view that the conduct alleged was not relevant to the teacher’s fitness to teach.
The most common allegations for cases that concluded at panel consideration stage related to processes/procedures (22%), verbal/physical aggression (18%), dishonesty (18%), and inappropriate behaviour/language (11%).
Most (82%) cases that concluded were related to more current events - the incident or behaviour had occurred within the year prior to referral.
Almost all (95%) cases that concluded at panel consideration stage related to incidents or behaviours that occurred when the teacher was registered.
Over half (56.2%) of cases that concluded at this stage were referred by employers and 16% were referred by members of the public.
Over two-thirds (67%) of registrants either fully or partially admitted the allegation(s) and most of these (81%) had done so at the time of the investigation. Just over one-quarter (28%) of registrants did not make a clear admission or denial.
Cases closed at hearing
Almost three-quarters (72.7%) of cases that progressed to a hearing concluded with some form of action. A significant proportion (40.7%) of cases concluded with a decision to remove the registrant from the Register. Just over one-quarter of cases concluded with a decision to apply a Reprimand (14.8%), Conditional Registration Order (CRO) (4.9%) or a combination of both Reprimand and CRO (8.6%). One-quarter of cases (25.9%) that concluded at the final hearing stage resulted in a decision of No Further Action.
The most common allegations for cases that progressed to a hearing related to dishonesty (35%), verbal/physical aggression (25%) and inappropriate behaviour/language (16%).
Most cases (81%) that concluded at hearing stage related to current allegations, where the behaviour or incident had occurred within the year prior to referral.
Most cases (89%) that concluded at this stage related to incidents or behaviours occurring while the teacher has been registered.
Most cases that concluded at this stage were referred by employers (80%). Member of the public referrals concluded at this stage made up 6% of cases.
In just under two-thirds of the cases analysed (61%), the registrants either fully or partially admitted the allegation(s). Just under one-quarter (23%) denied the allegations. A significant proportion (16%) did not submit a formal admission or denial. Almost half (44%) of registrants admitted the allegation during this final stage of the Fitness to Teach process. Half (49%) of registrants admitted the allegation(s) during either the GTC Scotland investigation or during panel consideration.
End of document
- Initial consideration
- Investigation
- Panel consideration
- Hearing
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