PRESS RELEASE : Nick Gibb responds to the ‘TES’ on teacher misconduct [January 2012]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 20 January 2012.

Sir

No teacher whose standards fall below an acceptable level will go unpunished as you alluded to in your story – Cases go unheard in GTC “shambles” (6 January 2012).

All serious cases of misconduct that could lead to teachers being barred will be transferred to the new Teaching Agency if those cases have not been concluded by 31 March 2012 when the GTCE closes. Where appropriate, all other cases will have been dealt with at a local level.

The current system does not work – it is weighed down by the bureaucracy of minor cases instead of dealing swiftly with the most serious referrals.

The new system will ensure that serious cases are dealt with much more quickly by giving headteachers greater freedom to deal with incompetent teachers themselves. We are bringing in clear, new standards for all teachers and there will be a new list of teachers barred from the profession available to employers and the public.

Nick Gibb MP Minister of State for Schools