Teaching Council apologises after eight-month delay on child-safety warnings

An independent KC review criticised the Teaching Council for neglecting police warnings about teacher Timothy Fisher for eight months, despite the alert that he had been caught masturbating near a school in 2010. Fisher, who concealed a 2002 indecency conviction under the Clean Slate Act, was able to register in 2011 and worked at 12 public schools and several private providers. The council had the authority to cancel his registration in 2015 on grounds of serious misconduct but failed to do so, recertifying him in early 2016 after a clean police vet.

Fisher was later jailed in August 2025 for indecent assault of nine girls and for producing objectionable videos. The council has issued an unconditional apology to victims, schools and the profession and announced organisational reforms, including a new chief executive and a detailed action plan focused on child safety.