An internal council audit has revealed that two supply teachers were working in Anglesey schools despite their DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) documentation having expired. The findings were presented during an Anglesey Council Governance and Audit Committee meeting on Thursday, where the management of safeguarding risks, including the use of supply teachers, was discussed.
Audit Findings and Limited Assurance
The internal review, detailed in the July 2026 Internal Audit Update report by the council's head of Audit and Risk Marion Pryor, aimed to determine if the council's arrangements were effective in ensuring relief teachers were recruited safely and complied with safeguarding legislation. While key safeguarding practices were evident across sample schools, the report identified areas requiring improvement, concluding that the overall control environment is not operating consistently enough to provide robust assurance. Limited assurance was therefore provided.
The report stated: "The main areas requiring improvement relate to inconsistent safer-recruitment renewal checks, limited evidence of supply-teacher induction and safeguarding briefings, and the need for clearer ownership and escalation arrangements, where concerns involve supply staff working across multiple settings."
Expired DBS and EWC Renewals
Sample testing identified two cases where DBS and Education Workforce Council (EWC) renewals had not been completed. The report noted: "Sample testing identified two cases where DBS [Disclosure and Barring Service] and [Education Workforce Council] renewals had not been completed reinforcing the need for reliable central tracking, particularly as the 'Teacher Booker' pilot is due to end in July, 2026."
The report also highlighted six issues or risks, comprising five major and one moderate issue. Management has agreed an action plan, with most actions expected to be addressed by September 2026 and the remaining action by November 2026. Given the cross-service implications for schools, the Learning Service, HR, and Social Services, progress will be monitored by senior leadership, with a follow-up review reported to the Governance and Audit Committee in February 2027.
Committee Reactions and Clarifications
Committee lay members, including William Parry and William Maund, queried the details. Head of Audit and Risk Marion Pryor clarified: "I think in this case it [DBS] had run out, rather than never having had one in the first case. I think that is slightly different, probably not quite as high a risk."
Mr Parry expressed astonishment: "I find it unimaginable that someone could walk into a school and teach children and not be cleared through the DBS system. I find that astonishing." Ms Pryor explained that the DBS checks run for three years and had only just expired, with no process in place for ensuring renewal. She added: "I think it would be unlikely that somebody would be able to teach in a school without having ever been through a DBS check. What I would say as a caveat to the DBS, we know that actually, it is not a fantastic control in its own right, it's a snapshot in time."
Mr Parry suggested that heads should have been required to confirm all DBS checks were valid within 24 hours, rather than just reminding them of policy. Mr Maund noted that having a valid DBS is a statutory requirement. Committee chairman Dr Geraint Jones emphasized the importance of auditing mechanisms to ensure DBS checks are valid and up to date.
Response from Education Chief
Education chief Aaron C Evans said they are working with schools to put tighter measures in place. He added: "We are working towards a system where we will receive an alert to say when that DBS needs to be renewed, so the system will be more robust."
