Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers

Preamble

This code of conduct is informed by the following:

• Consultations with head teachers and school-based staff including ongoing consultations with members of the LJMU Partnership Strategic Development Board.
• Programmes which involve the possibility of recommendation for QTS, whether undergraduate, postgraduate, Primary, Secondary, Early Years and School Direct are courses of professional training and therefore carry the expectation that student teachers will conduct themselves in a professional manner.
• Work-related elements of the programmes are designed to mirror the professional experience of a teacher.
• In addition, the standards of behaviour expected of teachers are governed by a number of DfE and other government documents which have statutory status including:
  • Education Act 2011
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children (December 2023)
  • Children and Families Act 2014
  • Keeping children safe in education, Sept 2024
  • Equal Opportunity and Discrimination (Equality Act 2010) ammended January 2024
  • Special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 to 25 years (2015, updated April 2020)
  • Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan (March, 2023)
  • Prevent duty guidance: for England and Wales (March 2024)
  • The Prevent duty: safeguarding learners vulnerable to radiacalisation (September 2023)
• Partner establishments and/or local authorities have their own Codes of Professional Conduct/Practice and this document is designed to reflect these. Student teachers must adhere to the expectations of their placement school and have responsibility for familiarising themselves with all relevant policies and protocols.
• The following documents also impact on the professional conduct of student teachers on programmes which lead to recommendation for QTS within the Liverpool John Moores University Partnership
  • LJMU Placement Information and regulations see: www.itt-placement.com
  • LJMU Student Disciplinary Procedures
  • QAA Code of Practice: Placement Learning

Code of Professional Conduct

Key Requirements: On both placement experience and in the university professionalism will be demonstrated by:

• Regular attendance: including adherence to the requirements for notifying absence from both placement establishment and LJMU (see sections on attendance and absence in Programme Handbooks and Section A of the website).
• Punctuality: as required by placement and by the demands of lectures, workshops, tutorials etc. for each programme at LJMU. In placement establishments there will be a requirement that student teachers are present at a specified time before the start of the day and for a specified time after the end of the day. School-based mentors will inform student teachers of the exact requirements for the individual establishment and the expectation is for the student teacher to adhere to these requirements.
• Active and appropriate participation: ensuring all set tasks and/or reading are completed for taught sessions; equipment is used appropriately; questions are asked to further develop personal understanding; participation in group discussions; all tasks set in sessions are completed in order to further learning; a proactive attitude is demonstrated at the university and whilst on placement.
• Respect for others both at school and at university: including all staff (teaching and non-teaching), other student teachers, pupils and parents in accordance with LJMU and school/LA policies. These include disciplinary procedures, equal opportunities, anti-discriminatory and anti-bullying policies.
• Appropriate use of internet facilities and online activity (including social media and mobile phone use): as required by the policies of LJMU and individual placement establishments.
• Appropriate behaviour: towards all children and young people and colleagues in relation to contacts in formal and informal settings.
• Ability to listen and act on feedback and advice: from Mentors, other staff in schools/establishments, Lead Mentors (Liaison Tutors) and other staff from LJMU.
• Taking responsibility for own learning: this will include being familiar with the information on the website - itt-placement.com and the requirements of the placement. This will include maintaining and keeping up to date any placement documentation which includes planning teaching, learning, assessment and training proformas in the training files throughout the placements.
• Being proactive in own professional development: and providing the evidence of meeting the ITE Curriculum in written and verbal formats. Taking responsibility for addressing concerns relating to individual experience on the programme by discussing such concerns with the appropriate tutors and/or LJMU staff.

On Placement, the following additional professional requirements also apply:

• Maintaining an appropriate standard of dress and appearance: as required by the establishment and university/programme guidance.
• Establishing and maintaining appropriate relationships, including on-line: with all of those involved with the university and school including children, parents, support staff, teaching staff and senior leadership.
• Carrying out duties as required by Mentors, other placement staff and Lead Mentors (Liaison Tutors): in relation to classroom observation, meeting with and working with teachers and other staff, planning, teaching and assessment of pupils and other appropriate professional duties.
• Taking responsibility for familiarising yourself immediately with key policies and procedures: this includes, but is not restricted to, child protection and safeguarding policies, health and safety policies including fire evacuation procedures and 'lockdown' procedures.
• Carrying out reasonable instructions: as requested by the head teacher/principal, senior staff, tutors and other staff in placement establishment.
• Complying in full with Part Two of the Teachers' Standards (Personal and Professional Conduct)

Consequences of failure to follow the Code

Action to be taken by the partner establishment and university

If a student teacher fails to follow the Code of Professional Conduct, or if their personal or professional conduct (as outlined by Part Two of the Teachers’ Standards) gives concern, the head teacher/principal or delegated colleague of the establishment will follow normal procedures in relation to staff discipline. In extreme circumstances, inappropriate behaviour may result in immediate removal from the premises and contact being made immediately to the partnership team at LJMU.

On other occasions it may involve the issuing of a warning (formal or informal) or advice about more appropriate professional behaviour. For example, a mentor may discuss targets for improvement in relation to professional conduct, which will be recorded alongside targets relating to teaching. Where professional conduct is a persistent problem, either at university or in school, a tutorial may be convened to discuss the appropriate next steps, which may include an investigation regarding fitness to practice. In school, concerns regarding professional behaviour may form part of an Intervention Action Plan as part of the Partnership’s Additional Support Framework.

Serious breaches of the Code of Professional Conduct

In the case of a serious breach of the Code of Professional Conduct, the head teacher/principal will wish to remove a student teacher from the placement.

If instructed to leave the premises by the head teacher/principal the student teacher must do so immediately.

The establishment will immediately notify LJMU of its intention to remove a student teacher from the placement by notifying the University via the Partnership office. The Programme Leader, along with the ITT Partnership lead will activate appropriate University procedures. In cases where gross misconduct is suspected, the appropriate student disciplinary procedures may be enacted (see LJMU website). The student teacher will be notified in writing of the procedures and of their right to representation and appeal.

What constitutes a breach of the Code of Professional Conduct?

This section lists actions, which constitute a serious breach of the LJMU Code of Professional Conduct and the DfE Personal and Professional Conduct (Part Two of Teachers' Standards).

Some breaches of the code may not immediately result in a Progress Tutorial being arranged. For example, establishment staff and LJMU Lead Mentors (Liaison Tutors) may wish to informally warn a student teacher that some aspect of behaviour (such as timekeeping, attendance or standard of dress) is not acceptable. A written record of informal warnings regarding professional conduct will be made and targets will be set for improvement. In most cases this will be noted within the context of the weekly mentoring session but may form part of an Intervention Action Plan as part of the Partnership’s Additional Support Framework.

Provided that such warnings are acted upon and the student teacher is seen to comply with the code of conduct such records will not be prejudicial to the student-teacher's progress on the course and they will not be taken into account in any reference.

Behaviours which will constitute a serious breach of the Code of Conduct

In the case of the other incidents listed below the decision on whether to exclude rests with the head teacher/principal in the first instance and it is sensible to assume that exclusion is the likely outcome of such a behaviour.

• Violent behaviour towards children (on or off school premises) **
• Sexual or inappropriate relationship with a pupil (including those over the age of 16) **
• Sexual offences involving a child under the age of 16 (as defined, for example, by circular 1/95 and by The Protection of Children Act (PoCA)(1999) **
• Sexual offences against someone over the age of 16 **
• Any offence involving serious violencen **
• Drug trafficking and/or dealing **
• Taking hard drugs (e.g. heroin) **
• Being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs on school/establishment premises **
• Stealing school/establishment or university property or money or stealing from staff/pupils **
• Deception e.g. falsifying qualifications, medical declarations, failure to disclose past convictions **
• Inappropriate on-line behaviour (including social media) or use of mobile phones
• Falsifying pupil records
• Helping a pupil to cheat or gain exam advantage
• Taking recreational drugs (e.g. cannabis, ecstasy)
• Drink/drug driving offences
• Regular lateness
• Regular unexplained or poorly justified absence
• Refusal to carry out duties
• Refusal to carry out reasonable instructions
• Inappropriate dress and/or appearance following warnings
• Making inappropriate remarks or using inappropriate language/behaviour to or about pupils, staff or others on school/establishment or university premises (for example in contravention of school/establishment, local authority and university equal opportunities, anti-discriminatory and anti-bullying policies)
• Repeated refusal to act on advice resulting in very poor pupil progress.

Please note that the list refers to behaviours both on school/establishment premises and in other circumstances. So, for example, if it is found that you have falsified records in relation to your past qualifications while on a course leading to recommendation for QTS, you will be excluded from the placement.

This list is not exhaustive and the fact that a behaviour or activity is not listed here does not imply that it is acceptable. All student teachers must adhere to and demonstrate Part 2 of the Teachers' Standards.

Techer's Standards -Part Two: Personal and Professional Conduct

A teacher is expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct. The following statements define the behaviour and attitudes which set the required standard for conduct throughout a teacher's career.

• Teachers uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school, by:
• treating pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position
• having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being, in accordance with statutory provisions
• showing tolerance of and respect for the rights of others
• not undermining fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
• ensuring that personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils’ vulnerability or might lead them to break the law.
• Teachers must have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which they teach, and maintain high standards in their own attendance and punctuality.
• Teachers must have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frameworks which set out their professional duties and responsibilities.

• Teachers’ Standards Guidance for school leaders, school staff and governing bodies (p14)

Code of Professional Conduct / Health & Safety Compliance

Please click on the hyperlink below to complete the Code of Professional Conduct/Health and Safety Compliance document. The form should take you no more than 10 minutes to complete and is a requirement of your course. It MUST be completed before you can attend your school placement experience. Also, complete the placement questionnaire hyperlinked below.

• LJMU Student Placement Code of Conduct and Health and Safety Agreement
• Placement Questionnaire 2024/25