The current position on DBS checks for trainees undertaking teacher training placements in schools remains as set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education
Paragraphs 297 & 298: “Where trainee teachers are fee-funded, it is the responsibility of the initial teacher training provider to carry out the necessary checks. Schools and colleges should obtain written confirmation from the provider that it has carried out all pre-appointment checks that the school or college would otherwise be required to perform, and that the trainee has been judged by the provider to be suitable to work with children. There is no requirement for the school to record details of fee-funded trainees on the single central record.”
The University of Leicester is unable to share copies of trainee DBS checks with partner schools due to GDPR. A trainee may wish to share their DBS certificate with the school, however it is up to the discretion of the trainee and they are not obliged to do this. This should not preclude a student from accessing their placement.
Please be assured that all University of Leicester PGCE trainees undertaking placements in schools as part of their qualification for QTS have been rigorously checked in line with the Childcare Disqualification Regulations, as well as the suitability and safeguarding processes agreed by our PGCE Partnership Management Groups to ensure they are suitable to work with children.
Helpful guidance on DBS checks
You may find it helpful to read this recent guidance from UCET and the National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers (NASBTT) which provides a clear overview of the requirements in respect of DBS checks and disqualification from childcare as they impact on student and trainee teachers:
https://www.ucet.ac.uk/14901/dbs-guidance-from-ucet-nasbtt-updated-july-2023
Overseas criminal record checks
These checks apply if someone has spent time working abroad. When trainees are first interviewed for the PGCE course, we ask them to complete a suitability declaration form. If the trainee indicates they have lived outside of the UK for a period of six months or more during the last five years and they then accept an offer of a place on the course, we undertake overseas police checks in place of or alongside a DBS check, in line with government guidance.