WHEN the new headteacher of Aspinal Primary School arrives he should get a warm welcome from the pupils - because they helped to choose him.

As well as the usual selection processes, all the applicants for the top job at the Gorton school faced a grilling from a panel of pupils in what was believed to be the first test of its kind in Manchester.

School bosses came up with the unusual approach to get the applicants to relax and to reveal their interests and personalities. During the 10 minutes they spent with each candidate, the children wanted to know about favourite holidays, the famous people they most admired and the things that made them angry.

Joan Kershaw, who is about to retire as headteacher at Aspinal, says the unusual interview approach reflects the importance the school places on involving the children. "We are a friendly and energetic school which has built up a strong ethos of involving children in every aspect of our activities," she said.

"We have a holistic approach to education, health and well-being and it was important that the new head was the kind of person who was able to take this on board."

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With the help of the children's input, the governors decided to take on Neil Flint, who will move to the school from Poplar Street Primary School, in Tameside. Mr Flint said the children's questions were the highlight of the day.

"Because one of the main roles of a headteacher going into a new school is to gain the respect of the pupils very early on, having the chance to talk to pupils as part of the interview process is really enjoyable," he said.

"I had been looking forward to it and they asked interesting questions. I think what it does is give the pupils full involvement and builds responsibility. I came out feeling refreshed and relaxed."

The unusual approach to recruitment has won the backing of Manchester's chief education officer Mick Waters.

"Aspinal Primary School is really taking seriously the importance of involving pupils in all aspects of school life," he said.

"Allowing them to be included in important decisions about their education - including, in this case, the appointment of their new headteacher - benefits the whole school.

"Their approach has proved very successful and an excellent successor has been found to continue Mrs Kershaw's valuable work."

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