R17 Response Accepted Self-assessed

Trained panel member requirement

Recommendation

From a date to be agreed, no interview panel to appoint staff working in schools should be convened without at least one member being properly trained.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
A requirement for at least one properly trained member on school interview panels for staff appointments was implemented in June 2006 (Gov.uk progress, 2006). This requirement is now embedded in statutory guidance, 'Keeping Children Safe in Education'. No further published evidence has been identified since 2006.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 18 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk
This recommendation requires implementation across many organisations. The assessment reflects central policy response, not adoption in individual organisations.
Jurisdiction
UK-wide
Response
Accepted
Accepted Home Office
22 Jun 2004

The Home Secretary made a statement to Parliament on 22 June 2004, the day the Bichard Inquiry Report was published, accepting all 31 recommendations in full. The government stated it was "in principle, accepting Sir Michael's main recommendations and will act on them immediately." Implementation led to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and the creation of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (now the Disclosure and Barring Service). By February 2007, 21 of the 31 recommendations had been fully or substantially completed. See Hansard, 22 June 2004.

Read Full Response
Note: Government responded with a single statement accepting all 31 recommendations. Individual per-recommendation responses were not published separately.
Progress Timeline
Department for Education states: Official Report
01 Jun 2006

Requirement for at least one trained panel member on school interview panels implemented. Now embedded in statutory guidance (Keeping Children Safe in Education).

Source
Source
Inquiry Bichard Inquiry
Report The Bichard Inquiry Report 22 Jun 2004
View Source
Responsible Bodies
DfES Primary
Themes & Tags
Mandatory safeguarding training Safer Recruitment Education
Recommendation age 21.8 yrs
Last formal update 7236 days ago