{"id":180298,"date":"2023-04-10T10:10:35","date_gmt":"2023-04-10T09:10:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=180298"},"modified":"2023-04-10T10:10:36","modified_gmt":"2023-04-10T09:10:36","slug":"teaching-regulation-agency-should-reform-or-go-says-union-boss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/teaching-regulation-agency-should-reform-or-go-says-union-boss\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Regulation Agency should \u2018reform or go\u2019, says union boss"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Teaching Regulation Agency should be reformed or disbanded, a union boss has said, amid warnings staff are being \u201cleft in limbo\u201d with \u201cuntold damage\u201d caused to their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, this weekend urged education secretary Gillian Keegan to \u201ctake a look at the work\u201d of the regulator,<\/a> which he said was \u201cvying to hold the mantle of bully in chief\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Schools Week<\/em> investigation in 2021 revealed how investigations against teachers accused of wrongdoing can take years before they are resolved<\/a>, with delays taking a toll on both accusers and the accused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his speech to NASUWT\u2019s annual conference in Glasgow on Sunday, Roach said the system \u201cencourages anyone to complain about a teacher \u2013 with total disregard for any notion of natural justice or respect for teachers\u2019 employment rights\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also accused private legal firms of \u201cgaming the system, dragging out speculative cases, and profiting from the misery of teachers unfortunate enough to get caught in the TRA\u2019s crosshairs\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The TRA aims to ensure the average case involving a hearing is resolved within 52 weeks. The agency\u2019s last annual report showed the average stood at 85 weeks for cases in 2021-22.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Roach claimed data collected by his union showed cases were now \u201ctaking an average 113 weeks\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMeanwhile, teachers are being denied information – presumed guilty whenever referrals are made. Teachers subject to vague and incoherent charges. Evidence disclosures denied. Specious complaints clogging the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Careers on hold and teachers blacklisted’<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTeachers left in limbo. Careers on hold and teachers blacklisted, with complaints remaining on file for years even when they are not going to be progressed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added that \u201cuntold damage is being caused to teachers\u2019 personal and family lives. Another example of a failed system that is also setting teachers up to fail. I can think of no other worker today who is subject to such legal jeopardy, injustice and lack of due process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course, we support a proper system of teacher regulation. But, this is not it. The TRA\u2019s actions are simply an abuse of power by a body that is dysfunctional and wasting public money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“And, given the current situation, Conference, it\u2019s high time for the TRA to reform or go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DfE was approached for comment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NASUWT chief warns teachers are being ‘left in limbo’ with ‘untold damage’ caused to their lives<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":106993,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[28,239,54],"post-theme":[2398],"class_list":["post-180298","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-dfe","tag-education-policy","tag-politics","post-theme-schools"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t