We are proud of the relationships we build with the education professionals we work with – whether candidates or clients. Our aim is to take a proactive approach in partnership with schools, and a long term view of our candidates’ careers. Fundamentally, we’re a tight-knit team, committed to doing a good job and enjoying the time we spend at work. Our relationship with Pertemps means that we offer an abundance of benefits and a great salary. Our employees also benefit from an award-winning incentive scheme and comprehensive training opportunities. We're hiring! Due to ongoing success, we're looking to grow the team with a permanent education compliance officer to join us in our office on the outskirts of Halifax, West Yorkshire.  Education Compliance Officer £22,000 - £24,000 p/a Hourglass is proud to be part of the Pertemps Professional Recruitment Group, a high performing recruitment business with nationwide coverage. We operate at the forefront of education recruitment and are const…

Sarah Catchpole, head of leadership recruitment at Hourglass, shares her best insider advice for senior leadership candidates. First things first: Spend some time dusting off your CV and tweaking it for the particular roles you’re interested in. You can afford to go to three or four pages as you make sure it’s 100% up to date, with laser-sharp focus on leadership roles. Bear in mind that the first half page is what is going to hook your reader in. It’s useful to begin with a profile – your ‘elevator pitch’ which will explain who you are and what you’re about. When it comes to listing your experience, make sure to Include concrete examples of your expertise, and quantify your achievements with numbers where possible. Measurable information such as the size of the multi-academy trust, or the school where you have worked, and data about the number of staff in your team, budgets, etc. is really useful. Beyond your CV: Are you active on LinkedIn? Don’t just cut and paste from your CV, but u…

After a long year of planning lessons, teaching classes, and marking who knows how many assignments, the summer holidays have arrived and it’s time to relax. Caring for your wellbeing is essential to every person, and teachers are no different. Here are five ways to rest and recharge your batteries during the summer holidays before going back to school in September: 1. Switch off your alarm clock and make the most of lazy mornings. It’s important to catch up on your sleep, and you’ll need to give both your body and mind a well-earned rest. Take the opportunity to eat breakfast in bed and spend the day in your pyjamas. ‘Wear what works’ is what the summer is all about, and there’s no dress code at home! 2. The subject of school holidays has to be one of the most misunderstood by non-teachers. On paper they look pretty cushy, but anyone who works in schools knows that every minute of down-time is hard-won and well deserved! Summer offers a great opportunity to catch up with friends and…

There’s a rumour that Cambridgeshire can get a bit nippy in the winter months. It’s said that there’s nothing to stop the wind blowing in from Siberia. Whether that’s true or not, Cambridgeshire definitely has its wild side. When the Romans were roaming the fens, it was a remote and inaccessible region. The tufts of solid ground rising above shallow water provided a mysterious habitat well suited to willo-the-wisps with their dancing lights and the dead hand which would emerge from the water and pull a man to his death. Nice. Cities in Cambridgeshire The county is now characterised by sophisticated cities and market towns. Peterborough is the largest city in the region. It is best known for its gothic Cathedral and rail links on the East Coast Main Line between London and Edinburgh. With a population of around 202,259, Peterborough is one of the UK's fastest growing cities. Travelling from Peterborough by train or by car, you can be in Cambridge in around an hour. Of course, there’s al…

Sarah Catchpole is Head of Leadership Recruitment at Hourglass – it’s a role which utilises a skill set she has been developing throughout her career in education recruitment and as a search consultant. Enticed into recruitment by way of the maritime industry and being surrounded by a family made up of education leaders, it comes as no surprise that Sarah is heading up this important area for Hourglass. Sarah - what does this role mean to you? Hourglass Leadership came about as the result of conversations with long-standing clients. We’ve been working hard, in some cases for years, to find the very best teachers for our client schools. Having really strong teaching talent is crucial, of course, but we know lots of senior leaders who are ready to take their schools and academies to the next level. Having the opportunity to try on different hats during my career has been invaluable. The experience I’ve had in search and selection, in addition to  being entirely immersed in education –…