The recruitment challenge

In 2005/06 over 2,600 primary and secondary schools advertised for a new headteacher. Around a quarter of primary schools and a third of secondary schools failed to make an appointment at their first attempt.

Some vacancies are particularly hard to fill for no apparent reason while others attract a surprisingly large number of applicants. There is no universal picture over the whole country.

Some types of school are experiencing particular difficulties in recruitment. These include:

• faith schools.
• small, rural schools
• schools with falling rolls.