At a recent interview I was asked what I thought of the locality. I replied positively and thought nothing of it until told later that the successful candidate would be required to relocate to the immediate area. No consideration was taken of the fact I live only 45 minutes away by train, am a homeowner, and have children established in schools. Can this be right or legal?

I blame this kind of thing on the power Human Resources now wields in FE. Surely, the result is a parochial staff base, which can’t be good at all. The legality of such a requirement is questionable, but I am certain any inspectorate would frown upon a recruitment policy that discriminated in this way.