Teaching Role and Responsibilities for New Teachers – A Guide

What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.

– George Bernard Shaw
Introduction:
Welcome to your new career choice in the challenging yet fulfilling employment as a new teacher. This guide has been produced as a reference point for your personal use, however, it does not cover all aspects of teaching. As a teacher you will be expected to abide by the Code Education and Training Foundation's Professional Membership Service (FPMS) code was developed by the Institute for Learning (IfL) and outlines the behaviours expected of members – for the benefit of learners, employers, the profession and the wider community. They are:

1. Professional Integrity
2. Respect
3. Reasonable Care
4. Professional Practice
5. Criminal Offence Disclosure
6. Responsibility During Institute Investigations
7. Responsibility to the Institute

Behaviour 1: Professional Integrity
The members shall:
Meet their professional responsibilities consistent with the Institute’s professional values.
Use reasonable professional judgement when discharging differing responsibilities and obligations to learners, colleagues, institutions and the wider profession.
Uphold the reputation of the profession by never unjustly or knowingly damaging the professional reputation of another, or furthering their own position unfairly at the expense of another.
Comply with all reasonable assessment and quality procedures and obligations.
Uphold the standing and reputation of the Institute and not knowingly undermine or misrepresent its views, or their Institute membership, any qualification or professional status.

Behaviour 2: Respect
The members shall at all times:
Respect the rights of learners and colleagues in accordance with relevant legislation and organisation requirements.
Act in a manner that recognises diversity as an asset and does not discriminate in respect of race, gender, disability and/or learning difficulty, age, sexual orientation or religion/belief.
Behaviour 3: Reasonable Care
The members shall take reasonable care to ensure the safety and welfare of learners and comply with relevant statutory provisions to support their wellbeing and development.
Behaviour 4: Professional Practice
The members shall provide evidence to the Institute that they have complied with the current Institute continuing professional development (CPD) policy and guidelines.
Behaviour 5: Criminal Offence Disclosure
Any member shall notify the Institute as soon as practicable after cautioning or conviction for a criminal offence. The Institute reserves the right to act on such information through its disciplinary process.
Behaviour 6: Responsibility During Institute Investigations
A member shall use their best endeavours to assist in any investigation and shall not seek to dissuade, penalise or discourage a person from bringing a complaint against any member, interfere with or otherwise compromise due process.
Behaviour 7: Responsibility to the Institute
The members shall at all times act in accordance with the Institute’s conditions of membership, which will be subject to change from time to time.
All decisions are taken by disciplinary committees, comprising lay and professional members, who sit with independent legal advisors. The procedures are administered by the professional practice team.
There are four sanctions that can be applied to members who breach the code of professional practice:

A reprimand
A conditional registration order
A suspension order
An expulsion order.
The nature of the sanction imposed will depend upon the circumstances of the case. FPMS has issued indicative sanctions guidance to the professional practice committee. Any disciplinary order imposed by FPMS relates only to a member's class and status within FPMS and bears no connection to relationships outside of that, such as membership of another organisation or employment.
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