Professional ethics in teaching

The Professional Ethics in Teaching video aims to educate teachers on the importance of ethics as a key theme across the recently re-published digital Code of Professionalism and Conduct (COPAC) and to highlight the importance of ethics in teaching. 

The video covers teacher professionalism, trust, honesty and integrity, meeting the needs of learners, and equality and diversity and can be viewed as individual chapters as follows.

Reflective questions

Chapter 1: Professional Ethics in Teaching

1. How do your personal characteristics and life experiences influence your moral or ethical decision making as a teacher?  
2. In what ways do you incorporate the principles of COPAC in your teaching? Use COPAC and the Professional Standards to help you reflect.  
3. How does the professional value of social justice help you to understand bias and power dynamics in your teaching or in your interactions with learners?

Chapter 2: Professionalism and Trust in the Profession

1. Why do you think public trust is critical to the teaching profession?
2. How do you demonstrate ethical reasoning in your everyday teaching practice to build trust with learners and/or colleagues?
3. What steps can you take to ensure that your commitment to ongoing professional learning is maintained and how do you share this learning with colleagues?

Chapter 3: Teachers’ unique position of trust

1. How do you integrate the professional values of social justice, trust, respect, and integrity in your teaching? Select one and use the Professional Standards to help you reflect.  
2. What challenges do you face in addressing the diverse needs of your learners, and how do you overcome them? Consider areas of professional learning you require.  
3. Can you think of an example when your trust or integrity has been challenged and reflect on the professional actions you took?  What did you learn?

Chapter 4: Acting with honesty and integrity

1. How do you approach moral and ethical decision-making in challenging situations?
2. What strategies do you use to ensure your professional actions and decisions are fair, transparent, and inclusive?
3. How do you collaborate with colleagues to navigate ethical dilemmas effectively?

Chapter 5: Role modelling inclusivity and anti-discrimination

1. How do you incorporate the expectations of the Equality Act 2010 into your teaching practice?
2. In what ways do you ensure that you create a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment for all learners?  
3. How do you handle situations involving discrimination or bullying among learners or colleagues?

Chapter 6: Interpreting what is right and what is wrong

1. How do you approach moral or ethical dilemmas that require instant action versus those that allow for deliberation?
2. What steps do you take to engage colleagues in professional dialogue about moral or ethical challenges?
3. What ways do you ensure that your face-to-face interactions with learners maintain professional boundaries?

Chapter 7: Common sense and professional judgement

1. How do you ensure that you are critically informed in your professional decision-making?
2. In what ways do you anticipate and adapt to the unique needs of your learners?
3. How do you avoid behaviours that might be perceived as an abuse of power or privilege?

Chapter 8: Standards of personal and professional conduct

1. How do you maintain professional boundaries in your interactions with learners, especially in digital contexts?
2. What measures do you take to ensure the confidentiality and respectful handling of sensitive information?
3. How do you address and educate learners about inappropriate behaviours or views, such as bullying or racism?

Chapter 9: Ethics in teaching: speaking up

1. How do you find the professional courage to speak up in challenging situations and what could you share with others about your approach?
2. What actions do you take to align your daily behaviours with the professional values of integrity, trust, respect, and social justice?  
3. How do you use the Professional Standards to enhance your self-evaluation and ethical decision-making?