Safer recruitment training: statutory requirements

Governing boards of maintained schools must make sure that at least 1 person on the panel conducting an interview has undertaken safer recruitment training. This is set out on page 52 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE 2023), the statutory safeguarding guidance.

This doesn't have to be a governor, but at least 1 governor should be trained in safer recruitment because:

• It will be necessary if your board has to recruit a new headteacher
• It's useful to have a governor who can step in if the trained person on a recruitment panel can't take part for any reason

One Education recommended this.

The requirement doesn't apply to academies, but you should make sure that those involved with recruiting and employing staff to work with children have received appropriate safer recruitment training.

This is covered on page 52 of KCSIE 2023 and page 13 of non-statutory guidance on staffing.