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Safeguarding

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Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment

The University of Cambridge is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children. In all aspects of PGCE course provision, including the recruitment of PGCE students, we adhere to relevant aspects of the ITT criteria, of Keeping Children Safe in Education, and of relevant legislation, and expect all members of our community to fully commit to their associated responsibilities.


Suitability to work with children and/or young people

The Faculty of Education will ensure that all those offered a place on the PGCE course are screened for their suitability to work with children or young people. This will be assessed through interviews, references, identity checks, and a number of background checks against the following lists:

  • Teachers and others prohibited from the profession
  • Teachers who have failed induction or probation
  • Teachers sanctioned by the General Teaching Council for England
  • Teachers and others sanctioned for serious misconduct but not prohibited from teaching

Primary applicants must not be disqualified under the Childcare Act (2006).

In addition, all prospective PGCE students must obtain a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure Certificate with Children’s Barred List information from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), prior to the start of the course; this will be a condition of any offer made. Prospective PGCE students who have previously resided overseas, in any one country, for a continuous period of at least 3 months during the preceding 5 years must also provide a criminal records check from the appropriate regulating authority.

The Disclosure and Barring Service charge a fee which is payable by the applicant themselves. If applicants already hold an Enhanced DBS Disclosure that covers working with children, they may not be required to obtain another one providing they have subscribed to the DBS Update Service. If an applicant has not subscribed to the Update Service, they will have to apply for another Disclosure. Conditional offer-holders will be contacted directly with further details of the process.


Disclosure of previous convictions or offences

In the event of a disclosure that contains information about a previous conviction or caution, the case will be considered by the Faculty's Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment Panel, and the University's Criminal Conviction Declaration Committee, to ascertain whether the offence(s) will prevent admission to the course. It is important to clarify that the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1975) does not apply to those applying to the teaching profession and that criminal convictions or cautions may never be considered "spent".

Applicants should be aware that any previous convictions related to drug offences, violence or sexual abuse would be a matter of concern for their future employer and may bar them from entering the teaching profession. If, in relation to this, applicants are in any doubt about their future employment prospects, they may wish to contact the Disclosure and Barring Service direct.


Further details

Further details are available from the University Student Registry.