Teachers respond to warning over disclosure forms

A hardcore of teachers and other schools staff who failed to fill in their disclosure forms from Shetland Islands Council have now fallen into line after a warning from their boss.

Councillors had become concerned after discovering that about 20 schools employees were ignoring letters instructing them to comply with the checks, which are intended to help protect children from sex offenders and other criminals.

Last week head of schools Helen Budge told the audit and scrutiny committee that all staff members had now complied after a further letter was sent out to some of them warning they would be contacted by phone to discuss their reasons for failing to respond.

She said the threat of individual phone calls would be used in future to try to prevent a repeat of the problem. Employees who are required to complete disclosure checks have to update their status every three years.

Councillor Allison Duncan wanted to know why the previous letters had been ignored. Mrs Budge said they tended to be people who had simply put their post to one side instead of dealing with it.