Two teachers have been waiting more than eight years for their misconduct cases to conclude, with the 鈥渟hattering impact鈥 of lengthy waits having 鈥減otentially devastating implications鈥. Figures obtained by Schools Week show 31 per cent of the 1,042 active cases on the Teacher Regulation Agency鈥檚 (TRA) books were first referred more than two years ago. The agency has been heavily criticised in the past for delays. , published last summer, show that teachers accused of misconduct waited 113 weeks on average for their cases to conclude 鈥 more than double the 52-week target. 鈥楶utting people at risk鈥 Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the school leaders鈥 union NAHT, said the regulator was 鈥渘ot just failing, it is putting people at risk 鈥 with potentially devastating implications for valued teachers and leaders鈥. One teacher 鈥 who wasn鈥檛 issued with a prohibition order 鈥 told Schools Week they were left in “limbo” for years and suffered “psychological damage”. Paul Whiteman Another lived 鈥渨ith the fear of public humiliation鈥 for more than two years while waiting for their case to be dropped through lack of evidence. 鈥淚t cannot be right that individuals are being left to wait years for a resolution,鈥 Whiteman said. Our investigation found 32 unresolved cases were referred to the TRA more than five years ago. Another 336 have been paused, a process called 鈥渁beyance鈥. About 75 per cent are awaiting police investigations, court cases, employment tribunals or other legal action 鈥 which are all now taking longer. The TRA鈥檚 two oldest cases are 2,959 days since referral. Both have previously been 鈥渋n abeyance whilst waiting for information from third-party organisations鈥. 鈥淎 number of other active cases鈥 have also been in abeyance, which 鈥渨ill, in most instances, prolong the amount of time it takes the TRA to conclude them鈥. 鈥榊ou can鈥檛 move on鈥 A former teacher, who waited three years for their misconduct hearing, said the experience had a “shattering impact”. 鈥淭he psychological damage of being in limbo is really pernicious because you can’t move on,” they added. “You’re frozen by something frightening.鈥 They had scores of therapy sessions following fears of 鈥渞eputational damage鈥 as rumours spread about why they were suspended. The TRA later found unacceptable professional conduct, but did not issue a prohibition order. Another teacher had to wait more than two years before they were told there was not enough evidence to proceed. 鈥淚t was the most horrendous experience. There was tension, stress, anxiety and the real fear of public humiliation,鈥 they said. 鈥淚 was working, but the thought, the threat 鈥 it was like the sword of Damocles hanging over my head.鈥 Both would only speak to Schools Week on the condition of anonymity. Delays 鈥榟amper heads too鈥 Teachers facing particularly serious allegations are issued with interim prohibition orders, preventing them from working in classrooms until their case is considered. But it is sometimes possible to continue working 鈥 usually for supply agencies 鈥 during investigations. Pepe Di鈥橧asio, the head of the Association of School and College Leaders, said that the delays hampered heads who were left to wait for a decision “so they can manage the implications鈥. Andrew Faux, of Lawyers for Teachers, wants the government to launch a review of its oldest cases and 鈥渄iscontinue all those where there’s no good reason for the delay鈥. Many of his clients felt 鈥渢ortured鈥 by the process and the long delays. His longest-running case is more than 2,000 days old. But a Department for Education spokesperson stressed the TRA has made “significant progress in the past 12 months, during which time it has concluded more misconduct hearings than ever before”. It has also “significantly reduced the number of older cases on its caseload”, they added.