Recruitment checks: cheat sheet

Last reviewed on 15 June 2022
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 34370

Do you know your DBS check from your section 128? Barred list check from prohibition from teaching? Learn the difference between the key recruitment checks, and why they're important.

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Contents

  1. DBS
  2. Barred list
  3. Prohibition from teaching 
  4. Childcare disqualification
  5. Section 128
  6. Get this information as a download

Many of you have told us you're confused about some of the recruitment checks schools need to do, so here's a quick guide. It'll help you understand how some of the key checks fit together to provide a holistic view of a candidate. You can also download this information as a printable cheat sheet at the end of this article, in case you want to keep it handy.

In practice, it'll probably be your headteacher or HR team that'll take care of recruitment checks for new staff (and most likely your school business manager or HR or admin team if you're appointing a new head). But as your board has overall responsibility for making sure safer recruitment procedures are applied in your school, it's important to be familiar with them.

DBS

What is it?

An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is a check on someone's criminal record.

Spent

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