Private Education: Offences Against Children

Monday 17th March 2014 Ministerial Corrections

[Steve McCabe]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many independent schools have reported to his Department in each of the last five years that a member of their staff has been convicted of a sexual offence.

[Official Report, 27 January 2014, Vol. 574, c. 396W.]

Letter of correction from Edward Timpson:

An error has been identified in the written answer given to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Steve McCabe) on 27 January 2014.

The full answer given was as follows:

[Mr Timpson]

The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) has received referrals from four independent schools, relating to convictions for sexual offences, since it commenced its regulatory role on 1 April 2012.

Under the previous Government, there was no requirement for teachers at independent schools to be registered. Under our new NCTL regulatory system, teachers in independent schools must be registered and are therefore regulated by the NCTL.

The correct answer should have been:

[Mr Timpson]

The National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) has received referrals from four independent schools, relating to convictions for sexual offences, since it commenced its regulatory role on 1 April 2012.

Under the previous Government, only registered teachers were considered by the regulator and there was no requirement for teachers at independent schools to be registered. Under our new NCTL regulatory system, all teachers, including those in independent schools are regulated by the NCTL.