Headteacher selection panel: requirements and eligibility

Last reviewed on 13 December 2021
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 4630

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.

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Contents

  1. Statutory requirements
  2. Size of the panel
  3. Who should sit on the panel?
  4. Involving governors who aren't on the panel
  5. The outgoing headteacher's role

Statutory requirements

Academies There are no statutory requirements regarding headteacher recruitment that apply to academies. However, the Department for Education (DfE) says it's best practice for academies to set up selection panels similar to those in maintained schools. See page 18 of the non-statutory guidance on recruiting a headteacher.  While safer recruitment training isn't a statutory requirement in academies,

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