Taylor Vinters - Solicitors

The teachers'' union NASUWT has launched a new campaign in opposition to the General Teaching Council for England''s (GTCE) forthcoming code of conduct.

Set to be introduced next month, the code aims to ensure those in the teaching profession meet high standards to ensure the creation of good learning environments.

However, the NASUWT claims it has serious concerns about the code and is now calling on teachers to sign a petition against its implementation.

Chris Keates, the NASUWT''s general-secretary, believes the code could intrude into the private lives of teachers.

He said: "Teachers and headteachers must of course behave in a professional manner, but the code has unreasonable expectations about how they should conduct themselves."

Defending the code, the GTCE''s chief executive Keith Bartley has suggested it is not intrusive and was subject to a thorough consultation process, receiving good support from parents and teachers looking to raise standards in the education system.