Recruitment shapes trust long before a contract is signed.
The Respectful Recruiter Scheme is a structured framework for schools that choose to lead with integrity in how they attract, assess, and welcome talent. It combines clear ethical expectations with practical capability building, ensuring recruitment practices are transparent, respectful, and aligned with organisational values.
Schools join the Scheme to signal leadership, strengthen candidate trust, and build recruitment systems that stand up to scrutiny.
Schools participating in the Scheme become Respectful Recruiter Members.
Membership represents a formal, public commitment to respectful recruitment practice and is granted following completion of a structured professional learning and application process.
As part of membership, schools enter into a Respectful Recruiter Commitment Agreement, which outlines clear expectations aligned with the Scheme principles and confirms leadership accountability for upholding those commitments.
Once complete, schools are recognised as Respectful Recruiter Members and may display the Respectful Recruiter badge on their careers page and recruitment related content.
Membership recognition follows completion of a six-part professional learning sequence completed as a leadership team.
Each session is short, applied, and focused on embedding ethical recruitment practice within the school’s own context.
Schools engage with tools and templates during the learning process and submit applied work within the learning platform as part of their membership requirements.
This learning-based approach ensures commitment is supported by documented practice rather than statements of intent alone.
The professional learning sequence aligns to five core areas that define respectful recruitment practice.
Clarifying ethical responsibilities, values, and leadership accountability in recruitment.
Ensuring role descriptions and job advertisements reflect clarity, honesty, and purpose.
Designing fair, structured interview and decision-making processes that reducebias and support good judgement.
Establishing consistent, respectful, and transparent communication with candidates throughout the recruitment process.
Strengthening early employment experience through intentional onboarding that builds clarity and belonging.
To support continuous improvement, Respectful Recruiter Members have access to optional, independently hosted feedback pathways.
Member schools may choose to activate the Respectful Recruiter Candidate Experience Survey.
Schools share the survey link with candidates who participate in recruitment processes. The Scheme aggregates responses and provides the school with an end-of-season insights report highlighting patterns, strengths, and areas for improvement.
This feedback loop supports reflection and improvement without placing monitoring or enforcement responsibilities on recruiters.
Member schools may also choose to participate in an independent staff exit insights process.
The Scheme collects and aggregates exit feedback and provides schools with a structured insights report identifying recurring themes, transition risks, and opportunities for systemic improvement.
Exit insights are designed to support ethical reflection and workforce sustainability and are not used for individual case investigation or performance management.
Respectful Recruiter Membership is maintained through engagement and accountability.
Where significant concerns arise and a school does not engage constructively with the Scheme or uphold the commitments outlined in the Respectful Recruiter Commitment Agreement, recognition may be withdrawn.