June Newsletter

This month we launch our new research “Blowing the Whistle in Schools” - a look at one of the top sectors on our Advice Line in terms of the number of concerns raised, but a sector where the subject of whistleblowing is rarely examined.  Our findings are interesting – school staff are one of the most willing groups to speak out when they spot wrongdoing, but the levels of retaliation they face are as bad as other sectors.  The regulatory structure for whistleblowing in schools is inadequate – Ofsted isn’t prescribed for most concerns, nor does it have a role in inspecting whether whistleblowing arrangements are in place and effective. We make recommendations for changes inside schools and beyond.

We are another month closer to our 30th Anniversary Conference: The Future of Whistleblowing. Opening the conference will be a discussion on how far we have come and how far there is still yet to go. What are the cultural changes for employers and whistleblowers over 30 years?  

We are excited to be welcoming Helen Evans, Oxfam whistleblower, Andy Noble, Head of Speak Up at NatWest Group and Guy Dehn, Founder of Protect along with our own Head of Policy Andy Pepper-Parsons. Professor Ross Cranston, ex-Protect trustee and former Solicitor General will chair the session. You can see the whole line-up of conference speakers on our website.  

Protect partnered with the Whistleblowing International Network to host a World Whistleblowers Day webinar: Paying People to do the Right Thing: the pros and cons of adopting US-style whistleblower rewards programmes. It led to a fascinating discussion between Professors Spagnolo and Vanderkerckhove.  Should UK regulators adopt US style reward systems? Do they work in practice? What are the drawbacks? We’ll share the webinar shortly, but meantime read our blog.  

We’re looking for a new Head of Communications to join our team to raise awareness about whistleblowing and drive support and media attention for our mission. Please share widely.   

Finally, watch out for the release this month of La Syndicaliste a film of the true story of trade unionist Maureen Kearney as she fights to raise whistleblower concerns about the French nuclear industry.  A powerful film which shows Maureen’s resilience under huge pressure. 

"Blowing the Whistle in Schools" -  new research project from Protect

Protect's latest research report Whistleblowing in Education looks at the lived experience of whistleblowers in education. The report analysed over 400 cases from education over 2 years. We found a difficult picture for whistleblowers where 72% face retaliation for coming forward, while 40% felt their concerns were ignored despite the vast majority raising their concerns internally. We call on regulators such as Ofsted, the Department for Education and local authorities to do much more to improve schools internal whistleblowing processes.

Should UK regulators be paying rewards to whistleblowers?

Protect are celebrating the 1st year anniversary of our Preventing Whistleblower Victimisation Guide.

Smells Like Teen Whistleblowing?

Whistleblowing is more public than ever before. Now more than ever we have an awareness of coverups and the heroes that try to unmask them, so it makes sense that a new generation of workers would be ready and willing to call out injustice. Read more about Generation Z's role in the future of whistleblowing and exposing cover ups.