Teacher prohibition checks: how schools check teachers.
How to check a teacher is not prohibited from teaching, what else the same service confirms, and how references complete the picture.
What is a teacher prohibition check?
A teacher prohibition check confirms that a person is not subject to a prohibition order or interim prohibition order from the Secretary of State, or a current sanction from the former General Teaching Council for England. All schools must run it before employing someone to carry out teaching work. It is free through DfE's Check a teacher's record service. RefAssure collects the references alongside it.
What a prohibition order means
Prohibition orders are made by the Secretary of State after a professional conduct panel convened by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA). While a case is being considered, an interim prohibition order can be made if it is in the public interest. A prohibited person must not carry out teaching work in schools, sixth form colleges, 16 to 19 academies, relevant youth accommodation or children's homes in England.
What counts as teaching work?
Under the Teachers' Disciplinary (England) Regulations 2012, teaching work means planning and preparing lessons and courses, delivering lessons, assessing pupils' development, progress and attainment, and reporting on it. Those activities are not teaching work when carried out under the direction and supervision of a qualified teacher or another person nominated by the headteacher, except for induction. That is why the check applies to unqualified teachers and instructors, not just those with QTS.
Some sanctions pre-date the TRA
A number of people remain subject to sanctions imposed by the General Teaching Council for England before it was abolished in 2012. These show on the same service.
Teachers who have worked overseas
Sanctions imposed by a regulator in another country do not stop someone teaching in England, but KCSIE says schools should consider the circumstances behind them. Ask the applicant for a letter of professional standing from the regulator where they worked, alongside overseas criminal record checks where available.
How to check a teacher's record.
Sign in
Use DfE's Check a teacher's record on GOV.UK with a DfE Sign-in account. The service is free.
Search
Look up the teacher. The record shows prohibitions, restrictions and section 128 directions.
Confirm status
The same record confirms qualified teacher status (QTS) and completion of induction or probation.
Record it
Add the prohibition check and its date to your single central record before the person starts.
Checks for a teaching post.
A prohibition check is one of several pre-appointment checks KCSIE lists for teaching staff.
Identity
Verify the candidate is who they say they are, including any change of name.
Enhanced DBS
With children's barred list information for regulated activity.
Overseas checks
Further checks if they have lived or worked outside the UK, such as a letter of professional standing.
References
From the current employer, before interview where possible. RefAssure handles this part.
Teacher references, back in a day.
Across 229 completed references the median turnaround was about 23 hours, and half came back within 24 hours.
- Ask the safeguarding questions your school expects, set once in a template
- Bounced referee emails flagged, most within minutes
- A heads-up after day 12 if a referee has not replied, so you can add another
- Signed PDF with a full audit trail for each reference
Teacher check questions
More in the full FAQs.
Who needs a teacher prohibition check?
Anyone a school is going to employ to carry out teaching work, whether or not they hold QTS. That includes supply and agency teachers, where the agency confirms the check in writing. Our supply teacher guide covers agency staff.
Do teaching assistants need a prohibition check?
Work done under the direction and supervision of a qualified teacher is not teaching work, so it depends on the role. Many schools check higher level teaching assistants and cover supervisors anyway. See our guide to teacher and teaching assistant checks.
Is a prohibition check the same as a DBS check?
No. A DBS check covers criminal records and barred list status. A prohibition order is a professional sanction and is checked through Check a teacher's record. Schools need both. Our page on DBS and references in schools explains how the checks fit together.
Can the public check if a teacher is prohibited?
DfE publishes teacher misconduct panel decisions on GOV.UK. Employers should use Check a teacher's record, which is designed for pre-appointment checks and also shows QTS and induction.
Does RefAssure run prohibition checks?
No. RefAssure collects references and employment history, with signed candidate consent, automatic chasing and a PDF audit trail. You run the prohibition check yourself through DfE's free service.
What should a teacher reference ask?
Confirm dates and role, then ask about teaching ability, conduct, any disciplinary action or substantiated safeguarding concerns, the reason for leaving, and whether the referee has any concerns about the person working with children. For a school-based referee, KCSIE asks for disciplinary details to be confirmed by the headteacher or principal. See our list of reference check questions.
How much does a teacher reference cost?
Your first reference is free. Then credits cost from 80p to 99p each, with no monthly fee, no contract and no VAT added. See pricing.
Related guides
Teacher references, without the chasing.
Your first reference is free. Two minutes to send, and RefAssure does the rest.