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See the tutor application routeWhat Does a CRB Check Do
This page translates the official guidance into plain English for tutors, parents, schools and tutoring organisations.
What Does a CRB Check Do is a ‘what appears on the certificate’ question. What shows depends on the level of check, whether barred list information is included, and whether relevant local police information can legally be disclosed.
Many searchers still use CRB language, but CRB was replaced by DBS, so modern guidance normally appears under DBS wording. This page turns the official guidance into a tutor-friendly explanation, keeping the wording simple without losing the important legal distinctions around level, route, and eligibility. It also fits into the wider “dbs tracking” content cluster, so related pages on this site cover the adjacent questions people usually ask next.
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Quick takeaways
- What appears depends on the level of check.
- Basic is not the same as Enhanced.
- Enhanced can include relevant local police information.
- A certificate should be read in context, not as a stand-alone verdict on a person.
What appears on the certificate
What appears on a DBS certificate depends on the level requested. Basic, Standard and Enhanced do not reveal the same information.
The question sounds simple, but the useful answer always includes two extra points: first, the certificate only reflects the level that was applied for; second, the information is a snapshot of the issue date, not a permanent live feed.
- What appears on a DBS certificate depends on the level requested. Basic, Standard and Enhanced do not reveal the same information.
How to read the result properly
For many tutors and families, the hardest part is interpreting the certificate without overreading it. A clear certificate is not a general character reference, and a certificate that reveals information has to be read in context rather than panic-read in isolation.
Filtering rules, issue date, workforce, and role context all matter. That is why a parent or employer should inspect the original certificate and have a measured conversation if anything appears on it.
- Check the level first.
- Check the issue date and identity details next.
- Then read any disclosed information in context.
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What the certificate means in tutoring practice
For tutors, certificate wording is only part of the picture. Families and organisations should also ask whether the certificate came from the correct route, whether the workforce matches the role, and whether the document is recent enough for their own safeguarding standards.
Where the certificate sits in the Update Service, an authorised status check can add confidence that nothing new has been identified since issue. Where it is not on the Update Service, the person relying on it has to make their own judgement about recency.
Bottom line
Some searchers want a binary answer: ‘What will show?’ The more accurate answer is that the content depends on the level, and the decision about suitability still sits with the person or organisation reviewing it.
If your research is turning into a real application decision, treat this page as the clarity step rather than the final admin step. Once you know the level and route you actually need, use the apply-now page to move forward in a tutor-focused way.
Common questions
Does a Basic DBS show the same as an Enhanced DBS?
No. Basic and Enhanced reveal different levels of information.
Can local police information appear on every certificate?
No. That is associated with Enhanced routes, not Basic.
Should a disclosed item automatically stop someone tutoring?
Not automatically. The information needs to be read in context and as part of a measured suitability decision.
Why is the issue date important?
Because the certificate is accurate on the day it was issued, and things can change later.
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Related guides
Ready to stop comparing routes?
This site is designed to make the decision clear first, then point you to the next practical step.
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