This article is part of our series The Ultimate Guide to SCR Management in 2025

The Single Central Record (SCR) is one of the most important safeguarding documents in any school or Trust. It proves that safer recruitment processes have been followed, that statutory checks are complete, and that leaders can provide evidence of compliance at any time.

With the release of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025, schools and Multi-Academy Trusts face growing expectations. Ofsted is looking not only at whether your SCR is compliant, but also whether safeguarding culture is embedded at every level of leadership.

This guide sets out exactly what belongs on your SCR in 2025, and how to avoid the pitfalls that still catch schools out.

The Role of the SCR in 2025

The SCR serves three purposes:

• Safeguarding assurance – evidence that everyone working in your school has been vetted.
• Inspection readiness – Ofsted and ISI inspectors will go straight to the SCR. If it is incomplete or inconsistent, it raises immediate safeguarding concerns.
• Trust-wide accountability – MATs must be able to demonstrate clear oversight of safeguarding compliance, not simply delegate responsibility to schools.

Single Central Record Requirements in 2025

Your SCR must contain the following information for all staff, supply staff, governors, trustees, volunteers, and contractors where applicable:

• Identity check – verification of full legal name and photo ID.
• Right to work in the UK – passport, visa, or settled status evidence.
• Enhanced DBS check – including disclosure number, date, and barred list check where applicable.
• Prohibition from teaching check – required for all teaching staff.
• Section 128 check – for management positions, including governors.
• Overseas checks – police certificates or letters of professional standing for staff who have lived or worked abroad.
• References – at least two, with full employment history and explanation of any gaps.
• Qualifications – where relevant for the role (e.g. QTS).
• Safeguarding training – dates of induction and refresher training.
• Governor and Trustee checks – prohibition, DBS, and Section 128 where appropriate.
  
  

These fields reflect the KCSIE 2025 requirements and remain non-negotiable for compliance.

Recommended Additions for 2025

While not statutory, many schools now record additional data to strengthen compliance and reduce risk:

• CPD and ongoing training history.
• Policy acknowledgements (e.g. annual sign-off of KCSIE).
• Leaver status and archiving.
• Notes on risk assessments where applicable.

Including these helps create a more complete safeguarding picture and avoids scrambling for evidence later.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Despite the importance of the SCR, inspectors still find errors every year. The most common in 2025 include:

• Using nicknames rather than full legal names.
• Missing overseas checks where staff have worked abroad.
• Out-of-date DBS renewals.
• Inconsistent formats across schools in a MAT.
• Evidence stored in multiple systems, making oversight difficult.

Even small mistakes can trigger safeguarding concerns and negatively affect inspection outcomes.

MAT Oversight: What’s New in 2025

KCSIE 2025 places a sharper emphasis on Trust-wide accountability. MATs are expected to:

• Conduct termly reviews of all school SCRs.
• Ensure governors and trustees receive structured compliance updates.
• Provide a clear audit trail of checks and changes.
• Demonstrate that safeguarding culture is led from the top.

This shift means Trust leaders must have consistent, reliable data. Spreadsheets alone rarely provide that assurance.

Why 2025 Is a Turning Point

From September 2025, Ofsted will assess not just compliance, but whether SCR processes demonstrate leadership ownership of safeguarding. Schools must show that systems are accurate, secure, and actively used to keep pupils safe.

For those still using spreadsheets, the risks are growing:

• Human error and version control issues.
• Lack of automated reminders or audit trails.
• Time-consuming preparation before inspection.

Moving Beyond Spreadsheets

Dedicated SCR software helps schools and Trusts stay inspection-ready every day. With School SCR, you can:

• Run automated daily audits of all records.
• Receive instant notifications for missing or expired checks.
• Maintain a centralised dashboard for MAT oversight.
• Generate inspection-ready reports in one click.
• Save hours of admin time each week.

Instead of firefighting before inspections, you can demonstrate compliance and leadership ownership with confidence.

Practical Takeaways for 2025

• Audit your SCR today against the KCSIE 2025 checklist.
• Assign clear ownership for maintaining and reviewing records.
• Schedule termly audits and spot checks.
• Standardise SCR format across your Trust.
• Move towards automated systems to reduce risk and workload.

Final Thoughts

The Single Central Record is more than a checklist. In 2025, it is the foundation of a school or Trust’s safeguarding culture. By keeping it complete, consistent, and inspection-ready at all times, leaders can be confident they are meeting both the letter and the spirit of the law.