Heads Together: Staffing Training 1

I attended a Heads Together training course on staffing. The first part was about recruitment of staff. Here is a summary of what I learned.

Once you've employed a teacher you've got them! You have to make sure it's the right person!

Advertising

• Look at other adverts to see how they advertise posts.
• Put as much information as you can about the post and about what you expect from the successful applicant.
• Say that visits are essential.
• Head Teachers jobs are advertised nationally, but others aren't.
• Involve senior management and governors, depending on the job.
• Set clear criteria/person specification - letters should be geared towards the job specification.

The interview process may include:

• Lesson observations
• Group discussions
• School Council interview
• Small group work
• An interview - in an interview you ask the same questions to each candidate, but you can ask a question in response. You can ask if there are any concerns for safer recruitment.
• You aren't really supposed to ring other heads to ask about candidates, but they do it anyway.
• After the interview, give honest feedback to each candidate. You should keep paperwork from recruitment for 7 years but only about the applicants interviewed.
• Anything written down in an interview can be looked at - so shred notes!

You must interview for permanent positions. Human resources will support you through the whole process.