Reporting a concern
Concerns about a teacher's conduct or competence may be raised through complaints, mandatory reports, or other information received by the Teaching Council. Find out when and how to report a concern.
On this page
Complaints from the public
If you have a complaint about a teacher’s behaviour or competence, their employer is your first port of call. They must be given a chance to investigate your complaint and attempt a resolution. The Council is not primarily a complaints service and we do not have jurisdiction to consider disputes between parents and schools or kura/centres.
If you are not happy with how the school or kura/centre has dealt with the issue, you can then raise your concerns with the Council if it concerns the conduct or competence of a teacher.
In limited cases a complaint can be made directly to the Council without first taking it to the teacher’s employers, for example:
- the teacher isn’t currently teaching (has no employer)
- you have reasonable grounds to think a conflict of interest will prevent the teacher’s employer from dealing with complaint effectively
- it's an exceptional case.
When you fill in the complaint form, include:
- your full name and contact details (you can’t make an anonymous complaint)
- the teacher’s name
- details of what you're complaining about, backed by any relevant evidence
- if possible, the outcome you would like to see.
Once you download and fill out the form, email it to conduct@teachingcouncil.nz.
Immediate safety concerns
If a child or young person is in immediate danger, call Police on 111.
For non-urgent matters that may involve criminal offending, contact Police on 105. Concerns about a child's safety or wellbeing can also be reported to Oranga Tamariki on 0508 326 459.
Reporting a concern to the Teaching Council does not replace contacting Police or child protection services where appropriate.
Mandatory reports from employers
Employers and former employers are legally required to report certain matters involving teachers to the Teaching Council.
A mandatory report is required in the following circumstances:
- Serious misconduct: There is reason to believe a teacher has engaged in serious misconduct. See examples of serious misconduct that must be reported.
- Dismissal: A teacher is dismissed for any reason.
- Resignation or end of employment: A teacher resigns or their fixed-term employment ends within 12 months of their employer expressing dissatisfaction with, or indicating an intention to investigate, their conduct or competence.
- Complaints about former teachers: An employer receives a complaint about a former teacher's conduct or competence within 12 months of their employment ending, relating to the period when they were employed.
- Competence concerns: Despite undertaking competency procedures, the employer is satisfied the teacher has not reached the required level of competence.
Mandatory reports must be made immediately. When submitting a report, provide information relevant to the matter being reported. Do not include confidential settlement agreements or associated information.
Criminal convictions
Teachers who are convicted of a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment for three months or more must notify the Teaching Council within seven days of conviction.
This requirement is based on the maximum possible penalty for the offence, not the sentence actually imposed. Failure to report a conviction may result in disciplinary proceedings.
Teachers can self-report through the Teaching Council's online service or complete a self-reporting form if they do not have access.
The Teaching Council also receives notifications of teacher convictions from the courts.
Under the Education and Training Act 2020, the Teaching Council must cancel a teacher's registration if they are convicted of a specified offence under the Children's Act 2014 and do not have an exemption.
Own motion
The Teaching Council may become aware of concerns about a teacher's conduct or competence without receiving a formal complaint or mandatory report.
In these circumstances, the Teaching Council may initiate its own conduct or competence process. This is known as making an own motion referral.
