A SCHOOL is employing a behavioural expert to secretly watch applicants for teaching posts.

The Venerable Bede School, in Sunderland, has brought in Matt Hudson to assess applicants during interviews, using the same techniques used by TV hypnotists Derren Brown and Paul McKenna.

Mr Hudson was present when applicants for two learning support assistant posts were having an informal lunch before interviews.

Without them knowing, he analysed their body language and unconscious language patterns as they talked to staff and pupils.

The school said Mr Hudson enabled them to get the best people for important jobs working with special needs pupils.

But unions described Mr Hudson's involvement as ridiculous and said school staff should be able to pick the best candidates without covert techniques.

Teacher Joanne Mills said: "Matt is very good at sussing people out."

But a spokesman for Unison, the union that represents classroom assistants, said: "This is ridiculous. All schools have proper interview techniques and people trained to do interviews.

"They do not need to employ someone extra to pick up on people's foibles, especially without the candidates knowing they are being watched.

"This is not the way to put people at ease and get the best out of candidates."