Recruiting a new Head, part 1

The process of recruiting a new Head is over, in around 6 weeks from electing a panel of Governors through to appointing the new Head. So I can now begin writing about it - although of course all confidential information is going to be left out.

The first stage was to elect a panel at the Governors Full Body meeting. We agreed that there would be one of each type of Governor (LEA, Parent, Staff, Community) plus an extra (our chair) - and two reserves. As the only community governor, I was elected to the panel. We were given several handouts by the LEA representative, including sample interview questions, suggestions for the job spec criteria and so on. We set the first panel meeting for the next morning.

We were immediately faced with a deadline - to get an advert in the TES the following week. The pay and personnel panel had roughed out a draft advert, so we approved it with a few minor changes in order to get it out in time.

There is a lot of history with our school - it has had many different Heads in a short space of time, and also amalgamated at the start of this year from an Infant and Junior school to an all-through Primary. For that reason, different Governors brought different issues and perspectives to the table. Our main issue was whether we would consider a deputy Head or only an existing Head. We agreed on the wording "experienced leader" which would not exclude deputies, but that would indicate that we were looking for strong candidates.

Also at that meeting we agreed on the criteria for the job and personal specifications, based on a list supplied by the LEA. We decided which were essential and which were desirable, and which we wanted to see demonstrated in the application form, at assessment, at interview, or any combination of those.

Finally, we assembled as many documents as possible for the application pack (School Prospectus, something from the kids on the kind of Head they wanted, and so on) and agreed which of us would take candidates for a tour of the School if they requested it.

We set the next meeting for a few weeks hence, when we would review applications and form a shortlist...

Computers For Schools?

Tesco's "Computers for Schools" scheme ends soon - vouchers will stop being given out on Sunday.

As ICT Link Governor I'm being asked to research and recommend some equipment for the school in the near future - not sure that remit extends to these vouchers though!

So far, I've collected 131 vouchers, although I hope to get more later in the week as the promotion ends and checkout staff give away their spares.

This means I am only 49 vouchers short of the lowest priced item in the catalogue, "Keyboard stickers". Wow, I get 3/4 of a pack of keyboard stickers (described as "Range of letters and colours to suit most users including those with visual impairment, upper and lower case provided") for having spent £1310 in the store? Alternatively, I could account for a tenth of a single copy of "Mighty Maths" software, or a hundredth of a desktop PC. Seems like a rip off to me...

I'll be interested to know how many vouchers we collect, from a school of just under 500 pupils. Does anyone find it a worthwhile scheme, or just some more PR for Tesco?