It is clear that one of the features of a professional group is a code of ethics to which the group's members are committed and by which they are bound. Aspirational refers to the need for a code to inspire teachers to do the very best job they can do, because to do so is in the interests of children and other learners. Educational refers to the need to educate teachers from the commencement of their training about matters relating to ethical conduct. Legal refers to the legal status that the code might have in terms of the degree to which it binds members. Finally, contractual refers to the grounds provided by the code for complaints against members.
Codes vary in terms of their emphases.
Four areas were identified. A code of ethics has four main characteristics. The first is about the aspirations and guiding principles of the profession. For teachers it is about what they need to do to carry out their primary role - to effect learning, and how they do it. A code identifies the common principles and values of the profession and how the members of the profession practise those.