Violent convicts and drug dealers applying for Welsh teaching jobs
Drug dealing, possessing offensive weapons in public, grievous bodily harm and possession of Class A narcotics – it reads like the rap sheet of a hardened criminal.
But these shocking offences were among a total of 434 crimes found to have been committed by 270 teachers applying for jobs in Wales in just an 18-month period.
One ex-con looking to work as a teacher had a conviction for assaulting, ill-treating or neglecting a child or young person, figures reveal.
Checks by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) on prospective teachers uncovered hundreds of convictions, including raps for violent crime, drugs offences and attacks on police officers.
One teaching hopeful who applied for a records check in March 2011 was found to have convictions for wilfully assaulting, ill-treating or neglecting a child or young person and drink-driving.
Another, whose application was processed in December last year, had six convictions – two for wounding, one for assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), one for common assault, one for an assault on a police officer and one for dangerous driving.
An application in May this year disclosed four convictions against one teacher, including possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and ABH.
A teacher who applied for a check in July last year was found to have a conviction for supplying cannabis resin – a Class B drug.
In the same month another applicant was discovered to have a conviction for possessing an article with a blade or point in a public place.
In January and August 2011 applicants were found to have been convicted for possession of MDMA – a Class A drug.
In another case in March last year a rap for cultivating cannabis and possessing a dangerous drug was found during checks on another applicant.
Three convictions for causing or procuring an act which resulted in an animal suffering unnecessarily were found during an application in January this year.
Applicants who had violent crimes on their records included those with convictions for grievous bodily harm (GBH), wounding, battery, affray and violent disorder.
Other offences discovered include obtaining a money transfer by deception, criminal damage, shoplifting, affray, burglary and harassment.
Philip Dixon, director of ATL Cymru, said any teachers applying for jobs in state schools in Wales had to be registered with the General Teaching Council for Wales (GTCW).
“Some of these offences would result in automatic barring from registration and that would mean they could not get a job in a state school,” he said.
“To put this all in context, even though some of these crimes are very serious and it’s very concerning that people with these criminal records can even contemplate working with children, compared to the 38,000 teachers registered with the GTCW this is a very, very small number indeed.
“The vest majority of teachers are very law-abiding and have impeccable records.”
He added: “Teaching is more than just a job, it’s a profession, and as such it has high responsibilities.
“Therefore those who want to enter it must show they have got the highest standards in their conduct. Certain offences mean they are simply not suitable. Parents and children can rest assured they are in safe hands.”
The CRB’s response to Wales on Sunday’s request added: “Criminal records checks have helped to stop at least 150,000 unsuitable people from working or volunteering with children or vulnerable people.
“Criminal records checks are just one of a range of tools to help employers make the right recruitment decisions. The figures shown relate to offences revealed by the checks, and do not show whether the applicants were given jobs.
“Not only is it an offence to knowingly employ a person barred by the Independent Safeguarding Authority, but it is also an offence for a barred person to work or even apply to work with the vulnerable group from which they have been barred.”