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Like the best of parties, our recruitment day last week was lots of work but also lots of fun. Thanks to the efforts of all involved it ran like clockwork and gave parents, governors, trustees, staff and children opportunities to get beneath the skin of the teachers who are keen to work in our school. It was interesting to notice how our judgements varied according to our different experiences and fascinating to watch how these were shared at the end of the day when we attempted to reach agreement on who to shortlist for interview.
The feedback from candidates has been good. They were both amused and lightened by the ‘speed-
dating’ activity that broke the ice at the beginning of the day. They, like us, had fun walking around with clipboards and a licence to record whatever observations they judged to be significant. They
were refreshed by the common sense of Stephanie’s ‘Respectful Communication’ taster session and
nourished by the deliciousness of Alex’s springtime pea soup and home made bread. Many are curious now to come to our conference in the autumn (whether they are appointed or not) in order to continue their link with the school.
The whole day was a bit like organising a party. We invited more people than we could possibly accommodate. We felt anxious when one or two (who we were banking on to be at the ‘heart and soul’) pulled out at the last minute. But in the end it worked out fine. Like with all good parties, we had a clear sense as it drew to a close of who were the friends we really liked. Now that the party’s over, we’re busy with the final stages of scrutinising whether these are also the people who really have what it takes to thrive as teachers in our community.
Watch this space - we’ll keep you posted!
Lizzie
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