Staff & headteacher recruitment
7 articles
Interview questions & tasks
- Assistant headteacher: interview questions and tasks Cover everything you need to during the interview process with our example questions, with some specific to primary, secondary, special and faith schools. Understand what you can't ask in an interview and use our tasks document to see a candidate put their skills into practice.
- Headteacher: interview questions and tasks Cover everything you need to during the interview process with our example questions, with some specific to primary, secondary, special and faith schools. Understand what you can't ask in an interview and use our tasks document to see a candidate put their skills into practice.
- Interview questions for a clerk to the governing board Use these interview questions when you recruit your next clerk and see what to look for in a response. They're based on the DfE's clerking competency framework.
- Interview questions for a deputy headteacher (Christian faith school) What might we ask at a deputy headteacher interview for a Christian faith school? We relay suggestions of questions for Christian faith schools from one of our associate education experts, presented in a downloadable KeyDoc. We also link to guidance from the CofE and a Catholic diocese.
- Interview questions for a deputy headteacher (primary) What interview questions could we ask primary deputy headteacher candidates? This article contains a downloadable KeyDoc interview record sheet with suggested questions for primary deputy headteachers and what to look for in responses. It also relays advice on making interview questions topical.
- Interview questions for a school business manager Can you suggest interview questions for a school business manager? The Key's associate education experts suggest questions to ask about different aspects of the school business manager role, and what to look for in a candidate's answers. We also refer to advice from the National College.
- Interview tasks for a clerk to the governing board Find out what tasks you can set when recruiting a clerk to the governing board, and what to look for in a response.
1 article
Job descriptions
- Job description and person specification: headteacher Use our model job description and person specification to help you recruit for your next headteacher - it's based on the Headteachers' Standards 2020.
6 articles
Recruitment processes
- Governing board's role in appointing staff Understand the part your board plays in appointing headteachers, deputy headteachers and other members of staff in maintained schools and academies. Discover more about your safer recruitment responsibilities and how to remain strategic.
- Headteacher recruitment: top tips for attracting candidates If your headteacher has just resigned (or intends to), it might feel as though there's no time to find any replacement, much less the perfect headteacher for your school. You've got time. Here's what to do now.
- Headteacher recruitment: what to do if it's not going well Recruiting a headteacher is difficult, time-consuming, and it isn't always successful despite your best efforts. Here's some advice on how to start over if it's not going well and you can't turn it around.
- Recruitment checks: cheat sheet Do you know your DBS check from your section 128? Barred list check from prohibition from teaching? Learn the difference between the key recruitment checks, and why they're important.
- Safer recruitment: role of the governing board Your board needs to confirm safer recruitment procedures are carried out in your school as part of it’s safeguarding responsibilities. Get to grips with what your role is, and how to do it.
- Shortlisting candidates: template and guidance Download our shortlisting template to help you identify which candidates to invite for interview. Find out how to make sure your process is fair and that you shortlist the right people.
10 articles
Recruitment: senior leaders
- Advertising for a headteacher vacancy: requirements Get up to speed on what you need to know about advertising for a new headteacher, including “good reasons” for not advertising at all.
- Appointing a headteacher: tasks for the chair As chair, what should I do once we have decided on a headteacher? This article includes a downloadable KeyDoc containing a checklist of tasks for a chair of governors might carry out after a headteacher has been picked. We also refer to guidance from the National College and a local authority.
- Co-headship: guidance for governors There's been a lot of buzz around the concept of flexible working and co-headship. Learn more about what co-headship is and what you need to consider when deciding if it might be right for your school.
- Deputy headteachers: appointment and pay The process for appointing and setting pay for a deputy headteacher is nearly identical to that for a headteacher. Understand the step-by-step process for hiring new deputy heads, as well as how to pay acting deputy heads.
- Headteacher absence: how to respond Know what your board needs to do if your headteacher is absent for a short-term or long-term period, for example if they're on sick leave or have resigned. Download and adapt our template letter to communicate the situation to parents.
- Headteacher recruitment: an overview Read our step-by-step guide to recruiting a headteacher, including advertising, shortlisting candidates, holding interviews and making the appointment.
- Headteacher recruitment during coronavirus: how to manage it remotely You can still successfully recruit a headteacher if you can't do it face to face. Here's what you need to do differently to lead a remote recruitment round and how to do it well.
- Headteacher selection panel: requirements and eligibility Headteacher selection panels are required in maintained schools and recommended in academies. Understand who can be on the panel and how to keep everyone involved in the recruitment process.
- Ratifying the decision of the headteacher recruitment panel Understand your role and the process for ratifying the panel's decision. Find out what questions to ask to hold the panel to account.
- Writing a reference for your headteacher Find out what’s expected of you if you receive a request for a reference for your headteacher. Understand whether you need to write a reference, who should write it and what it should cover.
1 article
Recruitment: teachers & support staff
- Early career teacher (ECT) induction: summary From 1 September 2021, newly qualified teacher (NQT) induction will be replaced by a 2-year early career teacher (ECT) induction, underpinned by the Early Career Framework (ECF). Here are the key points you need to know.