A proposed new code of conduct for teachers in England has been met with widespread criticism amid claims its terms are too vague and unrealistic and could put teachers’ jobs at risk.

The General Teaching Council for England’s (GTC) Code of Conduct and Practice for Registered Teachers is set to become effective from October this year but is now the subject of a fierce debate among teachers who say that it intrudes into their private lives and directly affects their basic human rights.

NASUWT, the teachers union that represents a quarter of a million teachers, has started an online petition to scrap the code and has already collected over 10,000 signatures.

General Secretary of the NASUWT, Chris Keates, said: ‘The new Code of Conduct and Practice is ridiculed with vague statements that are open to wide interpretation and abuse, putting teachers’ jobs and careers at risk.’  

The code states that a teacher’s work should be shaped by values such as ‘selflessness; integrity; honesty; objectivity; accountability; openness and leadership’.

The code also states that teachers should offer ‘impartial advice and guidance (to their students) about their future options’ and that they should ‘maintain reasonable standards in their own behaviour that enable them to uphold public trust and confidence in the profession’.

Teachers have argued that the code contains too many vague statements that are open to interpretation and are concerned that should they be reported for breaching the code a disciplinary panel could prevent them from teaching in the future.

There have also been questions raise about when and where upholding public trust and confidence in the profession applies and how this relates to teachers’ private lives.

Ms Keats said: ‘Teachers must of course behave in a professional manner, but the Code has unreasonable expectations about how they should conduct themselves.’

She added, ‘It (the code) makes little reference to actual professional conductand reads more like a blueprint for seeking sainthood.’

Keith Bartley, the chief executive of GTC, hit back at claims the new code was excessive saying: ‘It is a well-established principle that individuals have a duty to uphold the reputation of their chosen profession.

‘We are absolutely explicit that the new code does not in any way intrude into teacher’ private lives. The code is not open to interpretation.’

The debate continues… what do you think?