Important Notes for Applicants: Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Clearance for Teacher Training courses

The offer of a place on a teacher training course at Newman University may be dependent on you passing further examinations and is conditional on you being medically cleared as ‘fit to teach’ and being judged as appropriate to enter into training after a declaration and check on your criminal record. During your teacher training course, you will be on placement at a number of schools and in supervisory charge of children. Following a number of tragic and high profile incidents, national regulations require that all persons in such a position must have their Disclosure and Barring check and approved for suitability. These checks on the suitability of an applicant are very important and take time. You should therefore ensure that you read all the notes below and take the actions required immediately. Any delay could adversely affect your application.

The Process

Applicants are required to have a check undertaken by the Disclosure and Barring Service. You should complete the online DBS form carefully, using the help section if needed. Payment for the DBS needs to be made through the payment portal on the University website.  The ID needed to verify your DBS should be taken to the Student Helpdesk anytime during opening hours which are 9am–5pm Monday – Thursday and Fridays 9am-4.30pm or, to the Post Office if you selected Post Office verification. The University will send off your Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service. This process could take some weeks. If you already have a DBS at the relevant level of disclosure and it is currently registered to the DBS Update Service, it may be possible to use this one instead of applying for a new one. Contact the Registry Support Team or your relevant Faculty Office for advice on this.

DBS Disclosures

The Disclosure and Barring Service is an executive agency of the Home Office which provides disclosures to enable employers and voluntary organisations to make safer recruitment decisions. Disclosures will provide details of a person’s criminal record including convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer. If the position involves working with children, disclosures will also contain details from lists held by other Government departments of those considered unsuitable for this type of work. It may also contain information held by local police forces. There are three levels of disclosure – enhanced, standard and basic. The most detailed disclosure is the one required for teacher training students.

Any Questions or Queries?

Please see the Frequently Asked Questions to see if your query is answered there.

If you need advice on completing the DBS form, please see the section How do I complete my DBS form?

If you have any other questions or queries on the above processes, please contact the Registry Support Team on 0121 387 4583, or email Registry@newman.ac.uk.

Useful Links

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Policy
Direct.gov website
Department for Education website