Schools inspectorate Ofsted has looked at research into psychometric profiling and is considering whether it would help with the recruitment of its future inspectors, Tes can reveal.

However, the inspectorate is remaining tight-lipped about what particular personality traits it would be looking for.

The plan has been revealed in minutes from an Ofsted board meeting earlier this year, which show that board members discussed a research project into using profiling “to inform Ofsted’s future recruitment practice by providing information about the personality traits of effective members of staff”.

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An Ofsted spokesman said the test would be used not just for inspectors but for other staff, however, he declined to say what specific traits inspectors should have.

Last year, chief inspector of school Amanda Spielman said Ofsted was struggling to retain experienced inspectors because academy trusts were luring them away with higher salaries.

She said recruiting inspectors was a “perennial challenge” and said: “It’s important that we make sure that it’s an attractive job and something that people want to stay in for a decent stint”.

The Ofsted spokesperson today told Tes that psychometric tests were common practice in recruitment across the public and private sector.

He said: “A research project to explore if this form of testing would add value to Ofsted’s recruitment process has been launched.”