People Management
HR and payroll software for schools
Our HR and payroll software for schools is designed to help you spend less time buried in spreadsheets and more time developing your workforce. Perfect for schools, academies and MATs, this solution helps you:
- Integrate HR and payroll: Manage all aspects of people management with Access Education People & Payroll
- Empower your people: Provide self-service tools for employees to access payslips, request leave, and update details.
- Ensure compliance: Meet education-specific requirements and regulations effortlessly.
- Custom reporting: Create your own reports and views to enable insights to the people data that drives your people strategy.
One unified platform to ensure compliance and save time…so you don’t have to drink another cold cup of coffee.
Recruit, manage and engage your biggest asset - your people
Experience the power of seamless Payroll and HR software for education.
Tailored for education
Designed exclusively for schools and trusts, our People Management solution meets the unique needs of the education sector.
Seamless integration
Combine HR and payroll software in one unified platform to eliminate data silos and reduce administrative complexity.
Trusted accuracy
Achieve 99.9% payroll accuracy with our expert-managed services, ensuring compliance and reliability.
Unmatched efficiency
Speed up and simplify processes with self-service tools and comprehensive reporting, giving your operational team more time to focus on education.
So, what functionality is available to you (and your team)?
Delve into the details of our school HR software, Access Education People, and discover how each feature can improve (and dare we say transform), your school’s HR management.
Employee records
Centralise all employee data in a secure, accessible online hub
- Unified database: All records in one place, accessible anytime, anywhere
- Secure storage: High-level encryption and automated backups ensure data protection
- Compliance tracking: Easily manage diverse employment conditions and pension arrangements
Absence management
Efficiently track and manage employee absences
- Automated calculations: Bradford Factor and custom triggers for monitoring absence
- Easy reporting: Generate detailed reports on attendance and patterns
- Reduced admin: Simplify leave requests and approvals with self-service tools
Performance appraisals
Streamline the appraisal process to support staff development
- Comprehensive records: Document meetings, performance outcomes, and training needs
- Automated reminders: Set notifications for upcoming appraisals and follow-ups
- Goal tracking: Align employee objectives with school goals and track progress
Self-Service Portal
Empower employees with a self-service platform for managing their information, from any device
- Personal updates: Allow staff to view payslips, update details, and request leave
- Expense management: Streamline expense claims and overtime requests
- Training logs: Enable staff to log and track their professional development
Managed payroll: No homework required
Payroll, effortless. Compliance, ensured.
With our managed payroll service, we take on the responsibility of running and delivering your payroll. With a 99.9% accuracy rating and a 100% pass mark from the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals’ Payroll Assurance Scheme, your payroll is in safe hands.
Staff can view their payslips via a user-friendly portal, and your dedicated Payroll Executive will look after everything - from sending BACS, producing electronic pay slips, meeting RTI obligations, managing your pension processing and much more.
We process more than 50,000 education payslips every month for schools and trusts across the UK. We dare you to find another education-specific payroll provider who processes this many!
Solve your HR headaches
Introducing the all-new Access Education suite bundles
Take your people management to the next level
With just one bill, from one trusted supplier, you’re empowered to focus on what really matters - your students.
Designed for schools, trusts and academies, our tailored bundles guarantee the best value - backed by our Price Promise. Get everything you need, without ever paying more than you should.
Say goodbye to school recruitment stress
Recruitment, simplified. Talent, secured.
Finding top talent for your school or trust should be an enjoyable process. Yet, when you're buried under paperwork and unsure if your school is even being noticed by the right candidates, it's easy to feel overwhelmed.
But not anymore. With our education-specific recruitment tools, we make hiring simple and effective. From posting job vacancies to onboarding new staff, your school will attract, engage and hire the best of the bunch.
Plus, we’re now fully integrated with SchoolRecruiter (part of Eteach Group). This means you can reach over 500,000 jobseekers a month via the UK’s leading education job board, double application rates and cut your cost per hire by up to 20%.
We’ll do the heavy lifting so you can focus on finding the best fit for your school or trust.
Boost teacher retention and engagement
Drive engagement with our school HR software add-ons. Our employee benefits, reward and recognition and learning management software work together to help attract, retain and engage talented teams.
Access Applause
Our simple and speedy peer-to-peer appreciation features make recognition easy, encourages the behaviours that align to your mission and values, and rewards people in a way that encourages a cycle of positive momentum.
Access EarlyPay
The on demand pay app which gives your people instant access to pay they’ve already earned. Not only does this help with financial management, but also leads to a more engaged team.
Access Salary Extras
A best-in-class employee benefits solution, housing an unrivalled range of employee benefits designed to offer something for all your employees.
Access LMS
An essential for educational institutions that want to deliver effective online training. Our LMS offers a variety of features that can help you track, create, deliver and manage all of your training programmes.
Explore the latest insights relating to HR & payroll software for schools
Stay informed with our latest resources, guides, and updates. Whether you're researching or ready to make a decision, our resource hub offers valuable information to support your journey and ensure you make the best choice for your school's HR and payroll needs.
View all resources
See the teacher recruitment module in action
A comparison of 6 HR providers for schools
Payroll for schools: What are your options?
HR providers for schools: Should you switch, and when?
Your education payroll questions answered
Teacher retention: Build your HR tech stack
7 best strategies to increase teacher retention
Academy payroll: Outsourcing vs in-house software
Building a business case for an independent school HR system
Building a business case for a school HR & payroll system
Why customers love our HR and payroll software for schools
Seamless integration with Access Education People and Payroll
There's definitely a reduced workload, and the automation of tasks has been a big benefit.
Saving time, money and becoming more strategic
Everything, from staff records to payroll and appraisals, is in one place now. It’s streamlined, efficient, and error-free.
Overcoming software fragmentation
Before implementing Access Education People, payroll operations were fragmented, with multiple schools using different systems from providers. With Access Education People, employees gained access to a centralised platform where they could view pay slips, time sheets, calendars, P60s, and other relevant documents.
The only education-specific payroll provider on the market!
We saw plenty of other companies advertise payroll solutions for the sector, but none were particularly education specific, whereas Access was.
Enabling individual school and trust-wide visibility
Access Education People is brilliant, staff across the trust can now login and view information or reports relating to their own school, while those responsible for overseeing the trust - such as myself - have different login rights and are able to gain a higher level of visibility.
Hear from schools like yours
Discover how our HR and payroll software for schools have transformed operations through the experiences of our satisfied customers.
Frequently asked questions
Software specific FAQs
What makes your HR and payroll software tailored specifically for schools?
Our integrated HR and payroll software is designed exclusively for the education sector. This means it accounts for the unique complexities of schools, academies and MATs. This includes teacher pensions, educational compliance and staff management (such as absence tracking, performance appraisals and employee self-service).
How does the HR software for schools integrate with payroll services?
Our HR and payroll solutions are fully integrated, allowing seamless data transfer between the two systems. This eliminates the need for duplicate data entry and ensures consistency in employee records, payments, and compliance, streamlining your administration.
What are the key features of your school HR system?
Key features include:
- Centralised employee records
- Absence management with automated triggers
- Performance appraisal tracking
- Employee self-service for payslips, leave requests, and personal updates
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics tailored for education
Can your payroll services for schools handle teacher pension complexities?
Yes, our managed payroll service is purpose-built to handle complex teacher pension requirements, ensuring you remain compliant with government and educational regulations. When you partner with us, we take care of everything – from processing pensions to ensuring timely payments. You can sleep easy, knowing your staff’s pensions are in safe hands.
I need a blended approach to reporting, custom and standard templates, is this possible?
Yes, our reporting function can give you the best of both worlds, we have standardised templates that can be used for your everyday needs that are easy to use and to share with approved colleagues. We also have a customer reporting feature which allows you to modify these templates to suit with different views and data points, for those times when you need something more bespoke.
How secure is the data stored in the HR and payroll software for schools?
With advanced encryption, regular security audits and automated backups to protect sensitive employee and payroll data, our software offers unparalleled security. We’re fully HMRC compliant and prioritise data protection across all processes.
How long does it take to implement your HR and payroll software for schools?
Integration time can vary depending on the size of your school or trust and the complexity of your requirements. Whatever your unique situation, our dedicated onboarding team will work closely with you to ensure a smooth and efficient transition that meets your expectations. We’ll also be with you every step of the way throughout the setup process.
Is your software compliant with UK laws and regulations?
This is something we take super seriously. We’re fully compliant with HMRC, GDPR and teacher pension schemes. We ensure that your school remains compliant at all times and we carry out regular updates and checks to keep it that way!
What size schools or trusts can benefit from your payroll and HR software for schools?
Our solutions are scalable, serving everything from small primary schools to large multi-academy trusts (MATs). Our education HR software and payroll services are built to manage multiple schools and trusts within a single system. This is particularly beneficial for multi-academy trusts (MATs), allowing you to manage payroll, HR records, and reporting for all schools under one platform, centrally.
General FAQs
What is cloud-based HR and payroll software for schools?
Let us help you with some of the jargon. ‘Cloud-based’ essentially means ‘hosted online’. This allows you to access our software from any device, providing you have an internet connection. Not only is this a convenient choice, but it removes the need for on-site servers. With cloud-based technology, you also benefit from automatic updates, enhanced security and the flexibility to manage your HR and payroll tasks from anywhere. We recommend the couch at home!
Can your payroll and HR systems for schools be customised to fit our school’s specific needs?
Yes, we understand that software isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. You can tailor features such as reporting, employee records and workflows to meet the needs of your school, schools or trust.
How does your HR and payroll services for schools help reduce administrative workload?
We all know how time-consuming payroll is. Our service takes this task off your hands – ensuring accurate payroll processing, absence tracking and performance appraisals. Additionally, our self-service tools reduces the need for manual data entry AND it allows staff to manage their own information, request leave and view payslips. All in all, it’s a much more efficient solution.
Is training provided for using the HR and payroll software for schools?
Yes, we provide training for all your HR and payroll teams, ensuring they feel confident using the system. Learning new technology can be a little daunting, but our ongoing support will address any questions or concerns that may arise as you use the software.
How does HR reporting support my People Strategy?
Identifying and reviewing key HR metrics will enable you to gain insight into your people that can be turned into actionable areas of improvement and focus. It can also support your strategy and help you to forecast talent management needs.
What kind of customer support is available?
If you decide to work with us, you’ll get access to your very own dedicated account management team, which includes telephone assistance, online help and monthly service reviews. Our team have years of experience in the education sector, so we’re confident in our ability to ensure accuracy and compliance in all your HR & payroll needs.
How do I know if this software is right for my school?
When you purchase software, you’re also purchasing a service. We understand that we might not be the right for everyone, so we encourage you to talk to one of our pre-sales consultants, explore a demo and communicate openly with your team. We also encourage you to engage with other suppliers before making a decision.
Useful links:
What are the benefits of using a managed payroll services for schools?
You don’t need us to tell you – payroll is a monthly burden. With our managed payroll service, we take that burden away from your administrative team. Not only that, but we guarantee accuracy and compliance. In fact, you’ll benefit from an unbeatable 99.9% payroll accuracy rating, as well as expert support every step of the way. This means reduced admin time and cost savings – all while ensuring your staff are paid correctly and on time.
Solutions created by educators, for educators
At Access Education, we believe in simplicity. Our suite of integrated solutions is designed to seamlessly work together, creating a unified experience that transforms how you manage your school or trust.
- Financial Management: Optimise budgeting and financial management with real-time insights and simplified reporting.
- People Management: Manage recruitment, payroll, and staff well-being effortlessly.
- Parental Engagement: Consolidate communications and administrative tasks into one intuitive system.
- Curriculum & Assessment: Enrich learning with Access GCSEPod and Key Stage 3 resources, offering comprehensive content and insights.
Explore our full educational software solutions
Experience effortless integration, enhanced efficiency, and a unified user experience. Our solutions work together to simplify your processes, so you can focus on what truly matters: delivering exceptional education.
