Collection

Teacher misconduct

This collection contains information about regulating the teaching profession and the process for dealing with cases of serious misconduct.

This information will be of interest to:

  • employers of teachers (including employment and supply agencies), to help them decide whether an allegation of teacher misconduct is sufficiently serious to be referred to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)
  • teachers, to help them understand the potential consequences of serious misconduct
  • teachers, witnesses and panel members who are involved in professional conduct hearings
  • members of the public and press, to provide reassurance and transparency around the regulation process
  • anyone considering whether to refer a serious misconduct case

Hearings

We publish details of forthcoming hearings 5 working days before they are due to take place.

A small number of places are available for members of the press and public to attend professional conduct panel hearings. If you wish to attend as an observer, email misconduct.teacher@education.gov.uk at least 3 working days in advance of the hearing to register your attendance.

In 2023, TRA reviewed the policy which underpins how we publish information related to teacher misconduct cases. From 9 January 2024 all published decisions in which there is a finding of serious misconduct but no prohibition order imposed will be removed from GOV.UK automatically 2 years after the decision was first published. The details of these no prohibition order cases will no longer be accessible to employers when completing their safer recruitment checks as laid out in Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance.

Regulations and procedures

Referrals

Information on attending a panel hearing

Published 1 April 2012
Last updated 9 January 2024 + show all updates
  1. Information added about removal of published decisions after 2 years where there is a finding of serious misconduct but no prohibition order imposed.

  2. First published.