Teacher conduct and performance 2008-2016 Sound guidelines are in place to manage the conduct of teachers and related staff working in NSW public schools. The NSW Department of Education has around 49,000 permanent teachers, and over 45,000 teachers registered to work in schools on a casual The number of staff who have taken part in improvement programs, or undergone disciplinary action and convictions represents a tiny proportion of NSW public school teachers. The Department acts quickly to investigate all allegations of teacher misconduct including allegations of sexual misconduct. Disciplinary or remedial action, which may include dismissal, is taken against a teacher where an investigation finds they have engaged in misconduct. Teacher improvement programs The Department has structured procedures for managing underperforming teachers. Teachers identified as experiencing difficulty with their teaching performance are managed in accordance with the procedures. A performance improvement program, negotiated with the teacher, identifies the areas of performance requiring improvement, and strategies for support to be provided to the teacher. At the conclusion of an improvement program, a teacher may be found to have satisfied the requirements for the position. If they haven’t, the matter is referred to a decision maker for possible remedial or disciplinary action, which may include dismissal. In 2016, 40 teachers were involved in teacher improvement programs. Teachers dismissed Over the period between 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2016, 347 teachers were dismissed from their teaching positions for either proven allegations of misconduct or failing an improvement program (a table setting out the reasons for dismissal appears below). Teacher convictions Any teacher who is charged with a serious criminal offence must report this to their manager. The Department monitors matters where a staff member is charged with serious criminal offences and takes appropriate disciplinary or remedial action when court or police action is completed. A number of teachers were convicted of serious criminal matters since 2008. The numbers are: 2008 – 18 2009 – 17 2010 – 15 2011 – 12 2012 - 20 2013 – 13 2014 - 17 2015 - 15 2016 - 15 NSW DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION www.det.nsw.edu.au
31 Teacher convicted of carnal knowledge. Allowed to resign. Placed on NTBE. 32 Teacher engaged in sexual misconduct with a student. Dismissed. Placed on NTBE. 33 Probationary teacher deemed inefficient. Annulled. 34 Teacher deemed inefficient. Dismissed. 35 Teacher deemed inefficient. Dismissed. 36 Teacher deemed inefficient. Medical retirement. Placed on NTBE. 37 Teacher deemed inefficient. Dismissed. 38 Teacher deemed inefficient. Directed to resign. No Allegation Outcome Closed in 2016 1 Teacher in possession of child pornography. Dismissed. Placed on NTBE 2 Head Teacher convicted of assault within family situation Dismissed. Placed on NTBE 3 Casual teacher convicted of historical sexual assault of a student. Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 4 Former executive teacher convicted of historical sexual assault of student. Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 5 Casual teacher exchanged inappropriate messages on social media and engaged in sexual misconduct with a student. Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 6 Assistant Principal engaged in regular prohibited drug use and violence towards children in family situation. Directed to Resign. Placed on NTBE. 7 Casual teacher convicted of historical sexual assault of students. Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 8 Teacher inappropriately touched students Allowed to Resign. Placed on NTBE. 9 Former teacher convicted of historical sexual assault of students. Placed on NTBE. 10 Former principal with casual approval to engaged in fraud. Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 11 Casual teacher engaged in sexual misconduct with students. Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 12 Casual TAFE teacher convicted of sexual offences towards school students. Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 13 Casual tutor engaged in sexual misconduct towards a student. Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 14 TAFE Head Teacher engaged in historical sexual misconduct towards students Allowed to Resign. Placed on NTBE. 15 Casual teacher exchanged inappropriate messages on social media with students Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 16 Casual teacher engaged in sexual misconduct towards students Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 17 Casual TAFE teacher used department equipment to print child pornographic and other pornographic material. Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 18 Assistant Principal convicted of a criminal offence with respect to a student. Dismissed. Placed on NTBE. 19 Teacher engaged in historical sexual misconduct towards a student. Dismissed. Placed on NTBE.
20 Teacher engaged in sexual misconduct towards a student Directed to Resign. Placed on NTBE. 21 Teacher engaged in sexual misconduct towards children in family situation Teacher retired during investigation. Placed on NTBE. 22 Teacher engaged in sexual misconduct towards a student Dismissed. Placed on NTBE. 23 Teacher failed to disclose previous disciplinary history to Department Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 24 Teacher convicted of sexual offences towards students Resigned following charges. Placed on NTBE. 25 Teacher convicted of alcohol related offences. Allowed to Resign. Placed on NTBE. 26 Casual teacher convicted of dangerous driving occasioning death. Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 27 Teacher exchanged inappropriate messages on social media with a student Directed to Resign. Placed on NTBE. 28 Teacher convicted of possession of prohibited drugs. Dismissed. Placed on NTBE. 29 Teacher convicted of sexual offences towards a student. Resigned following charges. Placed on NTBE. 30 Casual teacher exchanged inappropriate messages on social with a student Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 31 Casual teacher engaged in historical sexual misconduct with students. Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 32 Casual teacher engaged in sexual misconduct with students. Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 33 Casual teacher falsified accreditation documents Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 34 Casual teacher convicted of possessing prohibited drug Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 35 Teacher convicted of act of indecency with person under 16 years or over. Dismissed. Placed on NTBE. 36 Casual teacher engaged in sexual misconduct towards a student Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 37 Casual teacher convicted of multiple counts of break and enter and assault. Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 38 Casual teacher exchanged in inappropriate communication with a student. Casual approval withdrawn. Placed on NTBE. 39 Teacher deemed inefficient Dismissed. Placed on NTBE. 40 Teacher deemed inefficient Dismissed. Placed on NTBE. 41 Probationary teacher deemed inefficient Directed to Resign 42 Teacher deemed inefficient Directed to Resign 43 Teacher deemed inefficient Directed to Resign 44 Casual teacher deemed inefficient Contract Terminated 45 Probationary teacher deemed inefficient Annulled 46 Principal deemed inefficient Allowed to Resign. Placed on NTBE.