Teachers want false allegations register

Teachers are campaigning for a national register of pupils who make false accusations of abuse against them.

The blacklist would be run along the lines of "List 99" held by the Government, which includes the names of all teachers barred from the profession because of criminal records or misconduct.

A motion calling for the register to be set up has been tabled by two branches, Walsall and Hull, for the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers' annual conference this Easter. It wants the list to be circulated to all schools and education authorities so that any future school taking in such a child knows his or her history.

Nigel de Gruchy, general secretary of the union, said he agreed with the motion in spirit, adding: "I can quite understand what has driven them to table it." National figures show that more than 3,500 teachers have faced police interrogation in the past decade over false or unsubstantiated allegations of physical or sexual abuse by pupils. The numbers have risen sharply in the past few years.

The union's own research shows it has dealt with 1,289 allegations during that period – only 52 of which have resulted in a court conviction. Union leaders have claimed that false allegations can wreck a teacher's career even if they are found innocent.

Mr de Gruchy said union members were now voting on which issues should be given priority for debate at the conference and that the union's executive would then decide its position on the motion.