Asked to interview my replacement!!

[MN2025]

I am a Headteacher and will be retiring in August 2026!

I took over my current school in September 2024 to raise standards given a poor ofsted in March that year and poor leadership. I’ve achieved what I was tasked to do and OFSTED came around and graded the school as ‘ good with outstanding features’ in November 2025.

I notified the CEO of the academy trust in October 2025 that I will be retiring at the end of the academic year to give them enough time to appoint my successor. They knew when I was asked to take on this school that I’d be doing it for 2 years max - they asked me to stay for another year and when I said no, there has been noticeable tension.

I’ve been asked by the CEO to conduct the first stage process with candidates - a basic interview and a chat to essentially narrow down the shortlist.
I told the CEO that it would be a conflict of interest and also somewhat unprofessional and uncomfortable for both parties. I’m happy to meet the appointed candidate and handover to them but I’m not at all happy that they want me to be involved in the recruitment process for my replacement!

Has anyone else had to do such a thing!! Seems very bizarre!

You're leaving on good terms - they trust you and they like you - I'm not sure this is a bad thing...

Yeah I don't think it's particularly weird either...

Why would it be a conflict of interest?

I agree. I think it would be a conflict of interest if, say, OP wasn't retiring but was applying for an Executive Head role, and they were being asked to join the interview panel for other candidates applying for it as well.

Having said that, whenever I've moved on from a position at a school, I haven't tended to be involved in the interview process for my successor other than briefly meeting the candidates.

This is completely normal. If you're the Head, you are part of the appointment. Even as a HoD stepping up or moving on, you'd be part of the process within your subject to appoint, as your SLT line manager or second wouldn't have the same knowledge as you (and you might be dealing with your own staff wanting to progress).

Sorry OP but I also think this is completely normal in the event of a retirement and an extension of the succession planning that you and the governors will have undertaken.

Very normal. I interviewed my replacement as HoD when I was promoted as I had the specialist knowledge required.