A press release issued by the NUSUWT condemns Gov't over reaction to the current controversy regarding the vetting of teachers.
"NASUWT will be objecting in the strongest possible terms to local authorities which go down this road and has raised the matter with the DfES."
Commenting on emerging reports that, in the wake of the furore about sex offenders in schools, some local councils are issuing instructions to schools to conduct CRB checks on all existing members of staff, Chris Keates, General Secretary of NASUWT, the largest union representing teachers and headteachers throughout the UK, said:
"This is an unnecessary, gross overreaction which could undermine the steps taken to restore parents' confidence in schools.
"It has the potential to overload the system, preventing full and proper checks being conducted speedily on new education staff.
"I cannot begin to quantify the distress such panic measures could cause to committed and dedicated staff and the burdens this will place on schools.
"There are potentially significant costs to the education budget.
"It is also likely to cause substantial logistical problems for the Criminal Records Bureau.
"NASUWT will be objecting in the strongest possible terms to local authorities which go down this road and has raised the matter with the DfES." (full report here)