Why is my ID not accepted if my name appears differently?
As part of our safeguarding responsibilities, we must verify the identity of all candidates before offering them any work in schools.
When carrying out identity checks, we are required to comply with the requirement of the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), the DfE’s statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education and the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003.
These checks help us confirm your identity accurately and complete the appropriate pre-employment screening.
Why can different names cause a problem?
When reviewing your identification documents, we must be satisfied that all documents relate to the same person.
Where different versions of your name appear on your documents, we may need additional information or evidence before we can complete our checks. Examples include:
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A missing or additional middle name
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A previous surname, such as a maiden name
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Missing or additional apostrophes or hyphens
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A shortened or informal version of a name
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Documents showing different names, such as “Katherine” and “Kate”
Even if all the documents belong to you, we cannot assume that different names relate to the same individual without appropriate evidence.
What should I do if my documents show different names?
If your name appears differently across your documents, you should provide evidence that links the names together.
Examples of acceptable documents include:
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A marriage certificate
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A civil partnership certificate
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A deed poll certificate
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A statutory declaration
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Other official documents confirming a change of name
Do I need to declare previous names?
Yes. If you have changed your name, previously used another name, or been known by a different name version of your name, this information must be declared during the registration process.
Why are these checks necessary?
These checks help to ensure that:
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Your identity is verified accurately
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The correct DBS checks can be completed
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We comply with our legal obligations as an employment business
Accurate identity checking is an important part of safeguarding children and helps ensure that the right checks are completed on the right individual.