A campaign by headteachers to tackle Norfolk's teacher recruitment crisis has taken a major step forward with the launch of a website selling the benefits of working in the county's schools.

Eastern Daily Press: Branding for the new campaign to tackle Norfolk's teacher recruitment crisisBranding for the new campaign to tackle Norfolk's teacher recruitment crisis (Image: Archant)

The county's primary and secondary heads' associations came up with the Educate Norfolk campaign after their members last year shared stories of how they had not received any responses to some job adverts, or were having to employ poor quality candidates.

It was first launched in March, and uses the slogan 'Big skies, bright future, be part of it' as part of an effort to re-brand the county.

Simon Fox, principal of Flegg High School in Martham, said: 'Historically Norfolk has been seen as a little bit of a place where you don't get the same excitement and challenge in education.

'Educate Norfolk is about saying that Norfolk is a place that's forward looking, and it's somewhere where you can get the same challenge you can get elsewhere, and it's somewhere where you can get support.'

The campaign also encourages more people to train as teachers, seeks to keep existing teachers, tries to tempt former teachers back into the classroom, and aims to attract recruits from abroad.

The website, www.educatenorfolk.co.uk, promotes the benefits of living in Norfolk and outlines the diversity of its schools, the challenges, and the level of ambition in the county. It also includes information tailored for people at every stage of their teaching careers and will list current job vacancies.

Dr Fox said: 'The website is the thing that can really reach out and communicate to people who are spread all over the country and further afield.'

• Do you have an education story? Email martin.george@archant.co.uk

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