Reference Policy

Dunbar Education – Reference Criteria – Document Attached 

Teachers and SLT
• Must be a minimum of two education-based references from within the last 5 years
• Must cover at least the last 11 months
• One reference must be from most recent employer (If the last employer is not an education setting then this must be in addition to education-based reference)
• References must be from Headteacher, SLT or HR
• References must be from the professional email address

If the candidate’s current/most recent employment covers the last 4 years or more
• We will accept two references from the same employer
• If the Headteacher or HR provide reference then we MAY sign this off, however, every effort must be made to get a second reference If the candidate’s most recent role is outside education setting
• We still aim to get two education-based references from most recent posts in education setting – should this not be possible then we may accept one education reference along with one professional reference
• We must still get a reference from the most recent employer

NQTs/Trainee Teachers
• We must get one reference from their University
• We must also get at least one placement, ideally the most recent

Teaching Assistants/Support Staff – The above reference criteria apply – with an additional note below:
• Every effort must be made to get education-based references
• If the above is not possible then we will aim to get references from experience working with children
• If the above is not be possible then we will accept professional references.
• We MUST still get a reference from the most recent employer