THE quality of teachers applying for jobs has declined in the past year, according to 32 per cent of headteachers polled in a recruitment agency survey. Only 20 per cent of heads and deputies questioned by Select Education Permanent said the applicants they had interviewed this year were of a higher calibre than those they saw in 2001. And 33 per cent saw no change. Letters from candidates were full of “poor spelling, grammar and lack of punctuation” or left out important details such as a contact number. Some heads complained that applicants did not know about the national curriculum, and others noted “lack of enthusiasm or motivation” or problems with “dress, chewing gum and lack of preparation”.