Ministers are being urged to clarify how schools should check the online behaviour of prospective staff after some asked teaching applicants for all their social media usernames, pseudonyms and “any websites you are involved with…or named on”.
Updated safeguarding guidance last year states schools “should consider carrying out an online search” on shortlisted candidates that could be explored during interviews.
It followed the 2021 murder of Sarah Everard in south London – and her killer’s use of social media – as well as more online issues cropping up in Teacher Regulation Agency (TRA) cases.
An application form for Chesham Grammar School, in Buckinghamshire, asks teacher candidates to provide account names and handles for “all of your” social media accounts, including any under a nickname or pseudonym.
