FOLLOWING an interview, we made a verbal offer of appointment to a teacher, who accepted. Subsequent information indicated that she had a poor record and that her
references were economical with the truth. Can we cancel her appointment?
If the offer of appointment has not been confirmed and accepted in writing, you may be able to do so. Although the spoken word may be taken as contractual, it is usual, in the case of appointments, to make the initial offer subjec to such confirmation. The governing body would be failing in its duty if it knowingly appointed an unsuitable person.
You should let those who wrote the references know that you are unhappy about their failure to be totally honest, but you should also look at your own initial request for references. Did you ask explicit questions about the applicant? In making
appointments, the responsibility rests with you to obtain the fullest possible information.
