Single Central Record
The Single Central Record (SCR) is a document that schools and academies must maintain to record pre-employment and vetting checks conducted on staff, including teachers, support staff and volunteers, to ensure they are suitable for working with children. It is a key element for safer recruitment and will be reviewed during an OFSTED Inspection.
The GO 4 Schools MIS has an integral SCR linked to records of staff, agents and third parties to ensure a full and accurate record can be maintained. This data should be recorded in conjunction with the DfE statutory guidance document ‘Keeping children safe in Education’ (KCSIE)
Who should be included in the SCR (Advisory)
- All staff employed by the school – e.g. teachers, teaching assistants, cleaners, administrative staff etc.
- Trainee teachers on salaried routes.
- Supply teachers / casual workers – either employed through the school or through an agency.
- All those in regular contact with children including volunteers.
- All Governors.
- Contractors who visit the school frequently or intensively**
- All people brought into school to provide additional teaching / training / instruction e.g. sports coaches and music teachers.
** Definition of frequent and intensive:
- Frequently is defined as once a week or more often
- Intensively is defined as four or more times in a month or overnight
The GO 4 Schools MIS SCR includes all the above in one location and will archive staff removed.
SCR field content
The SCR listing page will show all key areas of the record and flag any that are incomplete or not verified, below is a definition for each.
Area check | Description |
| Entity Type | Staff – employees of the school Agents – personnel for external agencies e.g. social workers Third parties – includes governors, volunteers and contractors |
| Name | Surname, first name |
| Associated agency | Name of organisation the agent belongs to. |
| Role | Job role of person e.g. teacher, leader, nurse, doctor etc. Not essential but if this changes it must be updated in the record and the date change recorded. |
| Identity verified | Full name of individual The current home address Date of birth Documents seen – must be originals and include a photograph to confirm the information above e.g. passport. Additional evidence can be sought. |
| Qualifications verified | Professional qualifications if applicable. Requirements for QTS must be checked as must HTLA qualifications. |
| Standalone barred list | Completed as part of an enhanced DBS check as a separate check. Not required for volunteers. |
| DBS | Enhanced DBS required for all teaching staff and governors. Volunteers can have a discretionary enhanced DBS check. |
| Prohibition check | Using the Teacher services website checks for teaching staff and HTLA but not TA’s. Site checks include:
|
| Section 128 check | Applicable to all governors, SLT and HoDs to check via the Teacher services website. Not required for staff pre 05/01/2015. |
| Annual criminal declaration | Declaration of no criminal record. |
| Right to work in the UK | Evidence for all employees and recommended for volunteers in school. |
| Overseas checks | General employment checks if required including if individual has worked overseas. |
| Supply staff checks | Checked via teaching agency and documents verified. |
The listing page (below) will display any incomplete checks unless marked as not required. The search box allows you to filter by any of the text fields, including the entity type i.e. staff, agent or third party, allowing you to view a subset of records. All records can be selected and easily downloaded as a .csv.
Individual records – Staff, Agents, Third parties
Selecting a member of staff, an agent, or third party by clicking on their name in the SCR listing page will take you to the individual record where the SCR can be maintained and updated.
The vetting checks for all personnel can be completed on the individual’s record page in the Single Central Record section. Each check has its own block to enter if the information has been requested, verified or not required. The document details and who completed the checks with the date verified can also be added.
