DBS Check for Teachers
Individuals planning to work as teachers will require an Enhanced DBS check due to regular contact with children.
Enhanced DBS checks are necessary for the teachers
Anyone working as a teacher in the UK is legally required to complete an Enhanced DBS check before starting their role. DBS checks for teachers are a core safeguarding requirement designed to protect children and ensure schools meet their statutory duties.
Why DBS Checks for Teachers Are Mandatory
Teachers work in regulated activity with children, meaning safeguarding checks are not optional. Schools, academies, colleges, and local authorities must carry out DBS checks for teachers to comply with:
- Safeguarding legislation
- Education recruitment regulations
- Ofsted and Department for Education expectations
There is no route into teaching without a DBS check, whether the role is permanent, temporary, supply-based, or voluntary.
What Type of DBS Check Do Teachers Need?
Most teaching roles require an: Enhanced DBS Check with Children’s Barred List
This is the highest level of DBS screening and is mandatory for:
- Primary and secondary school teachers
- Teaching assistants
- Supply teachers
- Early years educators
- Special educational needs (SEN) staff
In some limited cases (such as non-teaching support roles), an Enhanced DBS without barred list checks may apply, but this is determined by the employer.
What does a DBS Check for teachers show?
An Enhanced DBS check for teachers may include:
- Spent and unspent criminal convictions
- Cautions, warnings, and reprimands
- Relevant local police information
- Children’s barred list status (where applicable)
This allows schools to assess whether an individual is legally and safely able to work with children.
Can teachers apply for a DBS Check themselves?
Teachers working in schools, academies, or other regulated education settings will require an Enhanced DBS check, as these roles involve regulated activity with children.
In most cases, the school, academy trust, or education employer coordinates the application as part of the safer recruitment process. The application must be processed and countersigned through a registered DBS Umbrella Body such as Online DBS Checks.
Under updated DBS guidance, eligible self-employed professionals - such as private tutors working directly for parents - can also apply for an Enhanced DBS check themselves, provided the role legally qualifies. The application must still be processed through a registered DBS Umbrella Body and cannot be submitted directly through the government DBS website.
Eligibility must always be confirmed before applying, as Enhanced DBS checks cannot be obtained simply as personal checks.
DBS application process for teachers
How DBS Checks for Teachers Work
- The school or education employer initiates the DBS application
- The teacher completes personal details online
- Identity documents are verified
- The DBS processes the check
- The DBS certificate is sent directly to the teacher’s home address
Schools are responsible for reviewing the certificate before employment begins.
How long do DBS Checks for teachers take?
Typical turnaround times:
- Enhanced DBS checks: Around 48 hours
Timeframes can vary depending on:
- Police force involvement
- Address history
- Name changes
Teachers should apply as early as possible to avoid delays to their start date.
Can you teach with a criminal record?
Having a criminal record does not automatically prevent someone from teaching, but it depends on:
- The nature of the offence
- How long ago it occurred
- Whether it is relevant to safeguarding children
- Whether the individual is on the children’s barred list
Schools must carry out a risk-based assessment in line with safeguarding guidance.
FAQS
1. What DBS check do teachers need?
Teachers require an Enhanced DBS check, usually with a children’s barred list check.
2. Can supply teachers reuse a DBS check?
Sometimes. Schools may accept a DBS check if it is:
- Enhanced DBS Check
- On the DBS Update Service
Final decisions rest with the employer.
3. How often do teachers need a DBS check?
There is no legal expiry date, but many schools recheck every 3 years or when changing employers.
4. Can trainee teachers work without a DBS check?
No. A DBS check must be completed before any regulated activity with children begins.
*The turnaround times given are the average times taken for completion of the application. The time it takes can vary depending on local police searches, multiple addresses, common names and multiple name changes.
