Would you send a speculative job enquiry?

[Dreambee]

A school (indy) that I've got my eye on for vacancies does not currently have any roles advertised on the recruitment page of their website. However they do have a simple form on their website for writing in a speculative enquiry. I haven't seen this on a school website before and I didn't even know it was the done thing in schools. However, as it's there I'm assuming they must be open to the idea. Just feels strange. I'm more than happy to be proactive though.

Has anyone had any experience with speculative enquiries (both applying and recruiting)?

Have t had any experience but I know both the schools my children are at, and the one I work at, have speculative applications on their website.

You won’t get many schools that take heed of speculative enquiries.. They definitely won’t bypass normal advertising of the post, short-listing, lesson obs and interview. They have to follow Safer Recruitment.

I would. Independent schools in particular like to keep a file of possible good candidates for when they might need them. Some schools will recruit shortage subjects based on speculative queries even if they do t need them, because they know they might not get a good applicant when they next need someone.

Emphasise things like specific figures for recent exam classes (if good) and also your willingness to be involved in extra curricular.

A few years ago when considering relocating I sent out speculative queries with CV to about 8 local schools. I had 3 or 4 get back to me and 2 were really serious about me coming in to see them. I didn’t relocate in the end..but if you’re the right kind of person with experience that fits what they want, they may well be interested.

And they can manage this whilst posting adverts for jobs on their website etc.

Definitely fo it! Ans send speculative emails to schools too. When i was doing supply and fed up with agency nonsense I dod just that, got lots of supply work (state schools) and my current permanent job as a result.

Thanks for the replies. I'll definitely go for it. I wouldn't expect to get a job offer just of the back of a speculative enquiry without goring through the full recruitment process, but I'm now saying 'why not?', it doesn't hurt to be proactive and start to form a relationship with the school.