Guidelines for Interview Boards
Last updated: Wed, Oct 5th, 2016 12:51:40 pm
The Selection Committee interviews applicants on behalf of the Board of Management. The Board, through the Principal, should apprise the Committee of its requirements. Arrangements should be made for the Selection Committee to hold a preparatory meeting of at least 30 minutes prior to the commencement of interviews. The Secretary should retain a minute of this meeting.The functions of this meeting should include:
Election of a Chairperson
Clarifying the requirements of the school
Agreeing criteria for appointment
Allocating responsibility for areas of questioning
Agreeing a method of scoring the performance of candidates
The Teacher Recruitment Process is outlined in detail in ACCS Info Bulletin 12/2013. This information should be issued to all members of Selection Boards to:
Promote a uniform approach to interviewing
Ensure that the best possible candidate is chosen for the position or panel
Ensure that all interviews are free from discriminatory questioning or bias
It is advisable that the Secretary to the Selection Committee should retain a record of the areas of questioning in the case of each applicant interviewed.
Selection Process
The following procedure should be followed in the appointment of teachers:
Applicants are invited to submit Curriculum Vitae or be furnished with an application form (as appropriate). A copy of the conditions and terms of the appointment should be available on request. Application forms should not have any questions which seek to elicit information about a candidate's religious or political affiliations, sexual orientation or marital status.
The applications received for a vacant post should be forwarded by the Board of Management to the Selection Committee. This task is normally delegated to the Secretary of the Board of Management or to the Principal of the school.
The Selection Committee establishes criteria for short-listing, which take cognisance of such factors as eligibility and qualifications. A short-list of candidates is drawn up and called for interview. Candidates should be given a minimum seven days notice in writing of the date of interview.
Note: The Teaching Council is the designated authority for the recognition of professional teaching qualifications in Ireland and is the competent authority for the recognition of qualifications gained in a State outside of the EU. Where any doubt exists with regard to the acceptability of qualifications, the Department of Education and Skills should be consulted before an appointment is made.
The Selection Committee interviews the short listed candidates to determine their suitability for appointment and to list suitable candidates in order of merit. The list is submitted, with a report signed by all members of the Committee, to the Board of Management. The Committee's report should state the number of applications for the post, the number of applicants short-listed and invited to interview and the number of those who attended.