Safer Recruitment in Education
Safer Recruitment in Education is an online course of approximately 30-45 minutes for headteachers, governors, trustees, school business managers, HR and office staff, and anyone involved in recruiting staff or volunteers in schools and colleges in England. It covers why it matters, planning and shortlisting, references, interviews, and pre-appointment checks and the single central record. Scored assessment, 0.75 CPD hours.
Description
Safer Recruitment in Education is an online course of approximately 30-45 minutes. Who it is for: Headteachers, governors, trustees, school business managers, HR and office staff, and anyone involved in recruiting staff or volunteers in schools and colleges in England. No previous training is assumed.
The course has five short lessons:
- Why safer recruitment matters: Why people who pose a risk seek work with children, the legal framework, and KCSIE.
- Planning, advertising and shortlisting: Planning the role, job descriptions and person specifications, adverts, application forms, scrutiny and online searches.
- References and verification: Seeking, scrutinising and following up references, and verifying information.
- Interviews: The panel, values-based questions, exploring gaps and concerns, and decisions.
- Pre-appointment checks and the single central record: DBS and barred list checks, regulated activity, the 2026 volunteer change, other checks, the SCR and induction.
Every teaching page is narrated with captions and includes an interaction. Each lesson before the last ends with a knowledge check, and the last lesson closes with a 12-question assessment drawn from all five lessons (70% to pass, unlimited retakes, results by lesson) and a set of personal commitments recorded with the result.
This course is awareness training on safer recruitment in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, Part three. It covers schools and colleges in England. It does not replace accredited safer recruitment training required for interview panels, your local safeguarding arrangements, or HR and legal advice.
Main sources: KCSIE 2026 Part three; School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009; Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006; Crime and Policing Act 2026; UK GDPR.
Qualification Breakdown
By the end of this course the learner will be able to:
- Explain why safer recruitment matters and the legal framework.
- Plan, advertise and shortlist in a way that deters unsuitable applicants.
- Obtain and scrutinise references and check gaps in employment.
- Run a safer recruitment interview that explores attitudes to safeguarding.
- Complete pre-appointment checks and maintain the single central record.
Certificate validity
2 years