Alleged teacher misconduct numbers increase

In 2014 427 cases of alleged misconduct were reported to the Complaints Assessment Committee of the Teachers Council.  This compares to only 252 cases referred in 2010.

The increase is partly explained by more reporting by the general public aware of the Teachers Council processes (up from 20 complaints in 2010 to 69 in 2014), an increase in convictions (133 in 2010 to 144 in 2014) but also largely by increased reporting by current or former employers (up from 99 in 2010 to 214 in 2014).  However, convictions actually peaked in 2012 at 225, dropping to 172 in 2013 and 144 in 2014.

In 2014 45 teachers’ alleged misconduct were referred by the Complaints Assessment Committee to the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal resulting in 27 teachers being struck off.

Of the 206 teachers referred to the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal since 2010, 61 were for alleged sexual misbehaviour, 44 dishonesty/theft, 25 violence, 19 alcohol/drugs and 16 pornography.  Let us hope that the number of teachers convicted of offences continues to decline and that the number of teachers referred for disciplinary action takes a similar fall.