The number of people banned from working with children in education has risen by more than 60% in the past year due to a tightening of government regulations.
In a parliamentary statement yesterday, children’s secretary Ed Balls said the number of people banned from working in schools, further education colleges and council-run education institutions under List 99 had risen from 8,036 to 12,992 between 13 March 2008 and 19 January 2009.
Under regulations that came into force in February 2007, the government extended automatic bans under the list to people cautioned of sexual offences against children, as well as those who had been convicted of an offence.
50 people added to list
Balls also announced that 50 people whom ministers had previously decided not to include on List 99 had been added to the list, following a review triggered by revelations that convicted sex offenders were working in schools.
The probe, which began in 2006 and has been headed by Sir Roger Singleton (right), now chair of the Independent Safeguarding Authority, looked at cases of sexual offences indicating harm to children dating from 1940 to 2005.
The ISA yesterday took over responsibility for List 99 from ministers. The list applies to England and Wales.
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