HOPEFUL applicants failed to get the top job at a local school - because they were equally good!

Governors at Woodhey High School in Ramsbottom failed to decide the photo-finish between two "outstanding" candidates for the vacant post of head teacher.

Now they say they will re-advertise the job in the hope of finding a clear winner.

The name of the new head should have been announced yesterday but Mr Steve Ratcliff, chairman of governors, said the board remained deadlocked - even after two separate votes.

"We have to start the process all over again," said Mr Ratcliff: "Posts are normally re-advertised only when a suitable applicant cannot be found - but this is not the case here. It is simply that we had two equally good candidates."

Since the school's first headteacher, Mr Frank Bennett, announced his retirement last year, the school governors have been searching for a replacement.

Mr Ratcliff said the candidates, who underwent two days of interviews, were disappointed on hearing why neither had been offered the job.

But he felt that their search for a new head would be helped by re-advertising the post and that the two candidates "would still be strong contenders" if they re-applied.

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