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Honesty and integrity
By John Anderson, Head of Professional Practice, GTC Scotland
Guidance on conduct and standards of professionalism, both in and out of school, is available in the Council's Code of Professionalism and Conduct.
This is the latest in a series of articles discussing specific areas of the Council's Code of Professionalism and Conduct (COPAC), which came into effect in August 2008. The Code is designed to provide guidance and raise awareness of issues and situations which might arise; these articles intend to develop these themes further.
Section one of COPAC looks at professionalism and the maintenance of trust in the teaching profession.
At the heart of this concept of trust is the need to take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and well-being of children and young people when in the company of teachers, not only in the classroom but also in small groups or in one-to-one situations. However, trust goes beyond contact with children and includes a need to ensure honesty and reliability, both professionally and personally. The following sections of COPAC help to clarify these principles.
Section 1.5: honesty
"You should always be honest and accurate when providing professional information about colleagues or yourself, particularly when applying for posts or in dealings with the Council and employers."
During the course of their work, teachers will be responsible for matters such as writing references and reports and undertaking examination and assessment processes. In activities completed on behalf of pupils and also in those tasks which teachers complete on their own behalf (for example, applying for teaching posts), there is a requirement to provide information which is truthful and accurate and which does not include the making or submission of any reference or testimonial which is fraudulent in any way.
This also applies to declarations made in submissions in regard to, for example, Chartered Teacher and other professional programmes; and to honesty in the declaration of personal information (including, where relevant, any criminal convictions) in public documents.
Section 1.3: integrity
"You should avoid situations both within and out with the classroom which could be in breach of the criminal law or may call into question your suitability to be a teacher."
Teachers are, of course, entitled to a private life. However, certain offences committed during or indeed out with the working day may be relevant to the suitability of an individual to become or to remain on the Register. Accordingly, convictions for theft, dishonesty and fraud are all areas in which the Council has had cause to take action in the past.