Teaching or working with children with a DD record?

[Routemaster]

When you get a criminal record for drink driving it becomes spent after 5 years but even then must be disclosed on an enhanced CRB check. Are people who have a record for drink driving barred from jobs involving working with children such as teaching, even though they pose no harm to children or vulnerable people?

 

[ukboxer]

When you get a criminal record for drink driving it becomes spent after 5 years but even then must be disclosed on an enhanced CRB check. Are people who have a record for drink driving barred from jobs involving working with children such as teaching, even though they pose no harm to children or vulnerable people?

Easier to copy and paste this quote from a news article about a teacher to answer your question.

“Mrs Calton breached the code of practice and professional conduct for teachers in that she failed to uphold public trust in the teaching profession by engaging in criminal activity. Mrs Calton was not mindful of her position as a role model for pupils or that her criminal behaviour may damage the trust and confidence placed in her personally and the teaching profession as a whole.”

She in fact was not barred indefinitely from teaching but was barred for a period of 6 months.

 

[price1367]

UKboxer has posted a quote that summarises the position very well.
as to the future, if drink driving is your only conviction then it will show up on a DBS check for a period of 11 years and then is not shown after that.
This is providing the you do not acquire another conviction for anything criminal, because then, both convictions will never be spent for DBS purposes.
I have known people gain employment as teachers, police officers and foster carers with a drink drive conviction. It depends on how long ago and in what context.

 

[ally]

I am sorry I may put a dampener on this conversation I was done for DD before Christmas and the police rang my work prior to my court date and I was sacked as a teacher at a special needs school. However I have researched this at length and there is a document online about notifiable occupations, being a teacher is one of them however you have to be considered an immediate threat. There are four statements the police have to say yes to and evidence. In my case two of the statements were a definite no and could not be evidenced. I have involved my local MP to help me get answers.

The only thing I as a teacher would think this would affect is your commute too and from work. It is a road traffic offence not a criminal offence. Violence or crimes involving children would be different.

An enhanced CRB shows everything I was cautioned as a minor and even that was on there and I am 40, your past is always there. Even now I have had to explain what happened when I go for jobs.


I think it is with the discretion of the school, how long you have been there etc.

 

[Routemaster]

I am sorry I may put a dampener on this conversation I was done for DD before Christmas and the police rang my work prior to my court date and I was sacked as a teacher at a special needs school. However I have researched this at length and there is a document online about notifiable occupations, being a teacher is one of them however you have to be considered an immediate threat. There are four statements the police have to say yes to and evidence. In my case two of the statements were a definite no and could not be evidenced. I have involved my local MP to help me get answers.

The only thing I as a teacher would think this would affect is your commute too and from work. It is a road traffic offence not a criminal offence. Violence or crimes involving children would be different.

An enhanced CRB shows everything I was cautioned as a minor and even that was on there and I am 40, your past is always there. Even now I have had to explain what happened when I go for jobs.


I think it is with the discretion of the school, how long you have been there etc.

I am so sorry to hear you lost your teaching job. I think that is really unfair because your offence was not sexual or violent and having being a drink driver doesn't mean that you are a threat to children. I have heard of top footballer stars who have got criminal records for violent crimes or drug offences but have been allowed to coach children's football. For example Eric Cantona attacked a fan with a Kung fu kick and was convicted of assault but as part of his community service was allowed to coach children at football.
Its such a crazy system. I really hope you get your job back ASAP.

 

[ally]

I am so sorry to hear you lost your teaching job. I think that is really unfair because your offence was not sexual or violent and having being a drink driver doesn't mean that you are a threat to children. I have heard of top footballer stars who have got criminal records for violent crimes or drug offences but have been allowed to coach children's football. For example Eric Cantona attacked a fan with a Kung fu kick and was convicted of assault but as part of his community service was allowed to coach children at football.
Its such a crazy system. I really hope you get your job back ASAP.

My job has gone for good I have the police to thank for that, I have involved my local MP as I am convinced procedure was not followed. Hopefully I will get some answers soon unfortunately not my job back. I am so passionate about teaching the children loved me they always said my classes were so enjoyable and fun and they never wanted to go home. Somehow I have to ensure this mistake does not ruin my life. I am not a bad person yet feel like I have to shut myself away until I am back driving again and things return to normal. I feel that everything I have worked so hard for has been taken away and I have taken a 15 years backward step. Figuring out how to get back on track seems impossible right now. I am worried already about this medical I have to have and I just don't want to socialise at all I feel like I have nothing to contribute to a conversation like somehow my life is on hold and will be for another 18 months. Its like living a nightmare everyday, when I sleep that's the only time things are ok because I dream things are different that I am happy.

 

[Routemaster]

My job has gone for good I have the police to thank for that, I have involved my local MP as I am convinced procedure was not followed. Hopefully I will get some answers soon unfortunately not my job back. I am so passionate about teaching the children loved me they always said my classes were so enjoyable and fun and they never wanted to go home. Somehow I have to ensure this mistake does not ruin my life. I am not a bad person yet feel like I have to shut myself away until I am back driving again and things return to normal. I feel that everything I have worked so hard for has been taken away and I have taken a 15 years backward step. Figuring out how to get back on track seems impossible right now. I am worried already about this medical I have to have and I just don't want to socialise at all I feel like I have nothing to contribute to a conversation like somehow my life is on hold and will be for another 18 months. Its like living a nightmare everyday, when I sleep that's the only time things are ok because I dream things are different that I am happy.

Please stay strong. It sounds like you were a fabulous teacher and very talented. You are certainly not a bad person, just because DD comes with a criminal record. Sadly because of the system your pupils have lost an excellent teacher and you have lost the job you love. The best thing you can do is focus and get your life on track and back into the career you love. Have you considered doing voluntary work with children, maybe being a classroom assistant? It may be possible in a voluntary capacity that they won't be too draconian with your Drink driving record.

Maybe you could teach some adult education classes at your local college until you can get back to working with school children, it will also keep your CV active.

Just hang in there, do all you can with your MP and get a good lawyer as it's quite clear procedure was not followed and I have never heard of police reporting an individual to their employer. Don't tear yourself apart, I have every confidence that you will be back to teaching in a school soon. Just think about how happy you will be when you get back in the classroom and that day will come I'm sure if it.

 

[ally]

@ routemaster, thank you..... its been a ten year journey coming from a no body to achieving a first class degree in education and 7 years teaching those children that most would have given up on. Being a single parent and struggling I was living proof you could make it. I believe that every child could achieve something no matter what their ability was. For twelve months I did one to one support with a young person with autism at the Christmas fare her mother thanked me for building her daughters self confidence, she added she thought the world of me, I think about her often wondering how she is coping without me.

I never would give up on those children, and the termination of my employment affected those children I taught no one else, that makes me very sad. If I could turn back the clock I would but I cant. I have so much to offer. I am human, I made a mistake I just wish people could see that.