Outside the classroom

published:30 Sep 2009

Public expectations about behaviour both within and outside the workplace are common among professions. Teaching’s Code is no different to other codes in tackling this issue. Case law supports the view that individuals have a responsibility to uphold the reputation of their profession, and that their individual interests do not override the greater public interest in maintaining that reputation. And we have of course checked the Code to make sure it is in accordance with Human Rights legislation.

It’s exceedingly rare for us to take action against non-criminal behaviour outside of school. We reprimanded just two teachers for this last year, both already sacked by their schools: one for promoting unsafe sex on TV, the other for appearing in a pornographic film.

So the GTC is certainly not trying to pry into teachers’ private lives. If you listen to some commentators, you would think that GTC snatch squads are going to spend Saturday nights outside the pubs and bars of England ready to pick up any teacher who’s had a drink. This is clearly nonsense and experience will show it to be.