The myth of merit selection

This article provides a summary of the key findings from a doctoral research project investigating the in-school merit selection practices of New South Wales Department of Education (NSWDE) principals. The following conclusions were drawn from principals via semi-structured interviews and a state-wide online survey to reveal that selection subjectivity and implicit bias often have more to do with the recruitment of deputy principals, assistant principals (primary schools) and head teachers (secondary schools) than the much-vaunted meritocratic ideals of equity, fairness and objectivity.