Criminal Record

curlytoast

Hi
i've made a last minute application for uni- i want to become a teacher.

I'm really worried about my interview as due the course being teaching you have to declare any criminal conviction you have ever had whether that be minor or not.

Well when i was 18, 8 years ago, i was convicted of 'benefit fraud'.
Yes i know, benefit fraudsters are scum of the earth, i know that.

I know everone has an excuse, but i didnt con the system out of thousands being greedy.
Basically, i had become estranged from my family at 16 and suffered quite badly with anxiety and depression. I had been working on a cancer ward of a hospital for 2 years and one day i had a massive panic attack left my job, which i told them about. I just couldnt cope with the job as well as everything else.
Anyway because i'd walked out of my job, the jobcentre refused me benefits for 6 weeks. Well i had to beg steal and borrow for those 6 weeks.
I managed to get a temporary job in the last 2 of the 6 weeks, which i kept on for the first 2 weeks when i got my benefits back.
So basically i worked for 2 weeks whilst on benefits, yes very stupid, but i was desperate to pay some of the debt i'd accumulated during those 6 weeks, i had people on my back demanding money i had borrowed.

I know you are all going to think its my own fault, but i was desperate, i had no money for rent, food or anything. I have never been on benefits since, and have worked all of my life apart from those hard few months.

Anyway now im really worried i now wont be accepted on the course because benefit fraud sounds really awful. Will this be the case?

jamespir

i think unless youre considered a danger to the public then they could ignore it


How long a go was the offence because if it was more than 6 years a go then it wont be on your record no more

SUESMITH_2

for teaching though im sure you have to declare any convictions whether spent or not, i know i had to (not that i had any) and im a technician not a teacher

curlytoast

yes, you have to declare everything, no matter how long ago or how minor it was, which is fair enough when it comes to working with kids.

melancholly

i assume that at some point you'll need a CRB check for your course and at that point it will probably be picked up. not worth trying to hide it imo.

whitfreak

At some point you will have a CRB check, so whatever you do, do not lie about it. Lying will cause more issues when the check gets back. Your conviction should be spent, considering I doubt they sent you to prison for it. Make sure you have a calm and rational way of explaining what happened for the interview.

This type of conviction is does not cause a child protection issue. So I doubt it will be a problem.

Lilith1980

jamespir wrote: »

i think unless youre considered a danger to the public then they could ignore it


How long a go was the offence because if it was more than 6 years a go then it wont be on your record no more

It depends on what type of CRB check they do - if it's an enhanced check then spent AND unspent convictions will come up on there. But as others have said I think it would depend on how long ago the offence was and how detrimental it would be to the position you are going to work in.

curlytoast

Yes, it will definately come up because i've spent the last 2 years working in a nursery and it was in their check that they did on me, but i'd already told them before they did the check. They were fine about it.

I will definately be telling uni in my interview, i'm just worried that it makes me look really dishonest and because teaching is a position of trust they may reject me.

mrcow

You are what you are. There is no point hiding it as it will come up anyway so being up front in the first place is the most credible thing to do.

I wouldn't bring it up unless you are asked though.

Voyager2002

Speaking as a parent, I would be more than happy for you to teach my children.

As others have said, of course you must mention this conviction at your interview. The person interviewing you will know whether it might prevent you from working as a teacher, and will be able to advise on strategies for dealing with any problems it causes.

I suggest you print off the post above and take it along to the interview, since it gives the facts and the context fairly briefly.

melancholly

Lilith1980 wrote: »

It depends on what type of CRB check they do - if it's an enhanced check then spent AND unspent convictions will come up on there. But as others have said I think it would depend on how long ago the offence was and how detrimental it would be to the position you are going to work in.

for working with children an enhanced check should be compulsary.