In the last three months 5 interviews have first accepted a job then not taken it up?

[LoyaltyBonus]

On the face of it, they have all had personal circumstances change meaning they were unable to take up the role after accepting it following interview. All people returning to work after a break with DC, 3 TA posts and 2 admin, the kind of jobs that are generally considered "gold dust" for people returning to work with school age DC.

I'm starting to wonder if it's them or us.

Would you go back and try and contact them to get more info on why they were (really) unable to start. Individually the reasons they gave were perfectly reasonable but sooo many?

Obviously it's better for everyone for them to tell us before they start but I'm wondering what we're doing that's putting so many off.

What were the reasons they gave? School admin roles are like hold dust!

Things like a bereavement meaning they needed to support a family member, a family member's illness or just a change in personal circumstances.

I was once put off by the atmosphere I picked up on. I was virtually stared at and only one person out of four said hello.

I accepted the job but then a few days later called them to say I had to look after an elderly relative full time...which was slightly true. I was glad I did because I kept seeing the same job come up every few months.

I've started to learn to go with gut instinct! The staff didn't come across as friendly or working as a team.

You're right to be concerned.

I agree with the above, there's definitely something putting people off. Perhaps if you're senior you're insulated from iit and not seeing it.

What if you got the other admin and teachers' perspective, by asking them informally, one-on-one or in small groups?

What’s staff morale like? Could they have heard on the grapevine that it’s not a nice place to work?

Seems like a lot of posts. That's would ring alarm bells for me.

Hugo has probably hit the nail on the head.
They'll have found a better paying job.

How good is your reputation? I'd be inclined to think that someone putting them off.

Try googling your school name or type it into FB (particularly aggressive parents' group maybe?)

No Hugo we always calculate the actual salary for adverts.

We're not a mainstream school so we are "different" but we're well known and well respected for the work we do with challening children, so there shouldn't be any surprises

Who is/was involved in the recruitment process? Was the same person asked to give them a tour or set a test up for them who could have said something?

Do they all report to the same manager - if so what is the general thought about that person?

In our school our SBM is a total PITA to work for. Blows hot and cold, really aggressive if you do anything not exactly as specified (eg even if you do a bit more/better) and frequently has people in or near tears. I would not be surprised if word has got out as she has had to recruit/train and then lost 3 admin people within 18 months.

If you really want to know then maybe open yourself up to an anonymous in-house feedback session with the staff. Explain you are keen to be a good employer and you would like feedback about what it is like to work there. Anyone can write anything, it can be good or bad. Preferably constructive. Responses typed, put in a box in the staffroom.

You may not get answers. You may. You may not like what you read.