Recruitment & selection process

Apply online

The first step is finding the right opportunity. You can search all our current vacancies and you must apply online. Make sure you match your skills and experience with the role and academy that’s right for you. 

To find out more about the role, visits to academies and informal conversations are encouraged to help you learn more about what’s required. If you have any questions, or to arrange a conversation with the Principal/Line Manager, you should contact the academy via email to arrange directly.  

Use a cover letter or the Knowledge, Skills and Experience section to highlight your achievements and how your experience best suits the role. 

• Align your skills, qualifications and experience with the job description and person specification. 
• If you've held a leadership role, or key responsibilities, tell us about it.
• Be specific about responsibilities relevant to the position, reference projects you’ve managed or initiatives you’ve been part of. 
• If you're a recent university graduate or have limited work experience, include school-related projects or coursework that demonstrate relevant skills and knowledge. 
• Keep it short and concise by talking about experience and skills relevant to the position, and which show your potential and attributes for the role.

Evaluation and shortlisting

Once a job has closed, applications are typically reviewed within 72 hours. If you have not already submitted a cover letter, you may receive a request to provide a supporting statement outlining your knowledge, skills and experience.

When shortlisting is complete you will receive an email to notify if your application has been successful or unsuccessful. 

Due to the number of applications received, we are unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications before an interview has taken place.

Interview day

If shortlisted for interview, you will be asked to confirm that you’re still interested and available to attend the interview day. If you no longer wish for your application to be considered, please let us know via email as soon as possible as late withdrawals can be very disruptive for an academy. 

Once your attendance is confirmed you’ll receive a schedule of the day including date and time, location, who to ask for on arrival, interview panel members and the details of any task or presentation required as part of the interview process.   

Please Note 

Before you attend the interview, and in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, your referees will be contacted with a request for references. If you do not want your references to be request at this stage, please ensure you mention this when prompted to do so.

You will be requested to provide a completed criminal convictions self-declaration form before your interview. Ideally, please send this through via email before the interview day. If brought on the day of interview, the signed form must be sealed in an envelope and handed to the interview panel on arrival. 

Travel expenses incurred as part of your travel to and from the interview day will not be reimbursed, unless otherwise agreed by a Principal prior to the interview taking place. 

Depending on the type of role, we may hold a second stage interview with additional department/team members, or ask you to complete a presentation or task.

Conditional offer

If successful, you will receive a conditional verbal offer directly from the Principal, or Department Head/Line Manager. Depending on the type of role, you can expect to receive a conditional verbal offer either on the day of your interview, or by telephone within 48 hours.  

This will be confirmed in writing via email, with a request to confirm your acceptance.

Once you have accepted, you will receive a formal offer letter to sign and return, and you will be contacted to start our onboarding process of pre-employment checks. You can expect to receive your contract once all these checks are complete. This may be near to, or on your first day of employment at Harris.

Onboarding

In the event that you are successful at interview, we will require further information from you. During this process you will be contacted by the academy, or our central team, who will invite you in for a meeting to carry out the pre employment checks face to face. 

All offers of employment are subject to confirmation of: 

Two satisfactory references - references are typically requested prior to the interview taking place. Where you have specifically indicated that you have not given consent to contact a referee prior to interview then the reference will only be requested if you are successful at interview. 

• Right to work in the UK 
• Barred List and Enhanced DBS Clearance 
• Pre-Employment Health Clearance 
• Qualifications - original copies of qualifications which you have declared as part of your application and which are an essential requirement for the role. 
• Disqualification and Disqualification by Association Clearance (if appropriate) 
• Certificate of Good Conduct (if appropriate) 
• Prohibition Order Clearance (if appropriate) 
• Full clean driving licence (only applicable to posts that require driving) 
• A utilities bill dated within the last 3 months or other form of verification of your current address. 

If you have any questions relating to an offer of employment, please ensure you contact the relevant member of staff in HR. 

Your first day

In the lead up to starting with Harris, you will receive further instructions and information to help you prepare and settle on your first day. When you start, you’ll be welcomed by colleagues and can expect your induction day shortly after you’re joined. 

If you have not yet received your contract of employment, this will be ready and waiting for you.