Job adverts: requirements and guidance (maintained)

Find out which roles you're required to advertise for under staffing regulations for maintained schools. Get up to speed on the expectations in Keeping Children Safe in Education for what to include in your job advert.

Last reviewed on 3 March 2023
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 1908
Contents
  1. Check which roles you're required to advertise for 
  2. Choose whether to use internal or external adverts
  3. What to include in the job advert 

The governing board has overall responsibility for staffing. In practice, this is often delegated to the headteacher. The exceptions are headteacher and deputy headteacher posts, which can't be delegated.

Check which roles you're required to advertise for 

Headteachers and deputy headteachers

For a headteacher or deputy headteacher vacancy, the governing board must:

  • Advertise the post as appropriate. Find out what's considered 'appropriate' in the DfE's 'recruiting a headteacher' guidance (see page 24)
  • Notify the local authority (LA) in writing of the vacancy
  • Appoint a selection panel who will recommend an appointment to the governing board for approval 

The School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009 sets out these requirements (paragraph 15 for community and voluntary controlled (VC) schools and paragraph 27 for foundation and voluntary aided (VA) schools). 

We have guidance for your governors on how to recruit and appoint senior leaders on GovernorHub knowledge. If your school isn't already a member, find out more here.

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