Designated safeguarding lead: interview questions

Adapt these interview questions, find out what to look for in candidates' responses and use our template to record and score your evidence, to help you recruit the right DSL candidate for your school.

Last reviewed on 13 February 2026See updates
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 46944
Contents
  1. Create a bespoke interview pack that reflects your job description
  2. Or use our general DSL questions
  3. Or ask KeyGPT for personalised questions and tasks 

Create a bespoke interview pack that reflects your job description

Designated safeguarding lead (DSL) roles vary from school to school, depending on factors like:

  • Your school's size and phase
  • Specific challenges your school is facing
  • If the DSL position is part of another role, e.g. an assistant headteacher responsible for safeguarding

Use our bespoke interview pack that includes interview questions and tasks personalised to the specific requirements of your school's DSL role.

Our tool lets you to pick interview questions and tasks matched to the job description, and produces a tailored pack for you with guidance on:

  • What to look for in good answers
  • How to adapt and evaluate interview tasks

Or use our general DSL questions

Download and use our list of general questions that are suitable for any DSL post. You may find them particularly useful if you're recruiting for a role that only has safeguarding responsibilities.

General safeguarding