For a school, the TRA matters in two ways: checking and referring.
Checking. Before appointing anyone to teaching work, schools must check they are not subject to a prohibition order or interim prohibition order (KCSIE 2026, paragraphs 313 and 332). The check is made on the DfE's free Check a teacher's record service, which needs a DfE Sign-in account (paragraphs 340 and 341).
Referring. Where a school dismisses a teacher for serious misconduct, or stops using an agency teacher's services, or would have done had they not left first, it must consider whether to refer the case to the Secretary of State under sections 141D and 141E of the Education Act 2002 (paragraph 432). Referrals go through the TRA. Part four repeats this for substantiated allegations against teaching staff: the case manager must consider a TRA referral (paragraph 485).
The TRA referral is separate from the duty to refer to the DBS. The DBS decides on barring from regulated activity; the TRA process decides whether someone can carry out teaching work. A school may need to do both.
A TRA professional conduct panel considers the case, and the decision on prohibition is made on behalf of the Secretary of State (paragraph 332). The TRA doesn't deal with support staff unless they do teaching work.