Access Education People
Human resources for schools: What to consider before you invest
Human resources for schools is a bit of a minefield. Unlike the corporate sector, schools often lack dedicated HR expertise, leaving leadership teams to juggle complex regulations, safeguarding and staff wellbeing – without the infrastructure or training to manage it effectively.
Thankfully, there are solutions out there to help. But where do you start? What should you look for? And what providers should you consider? Read on to find out the answers to these questions, and more.
Why traditional HR doesn’t work for schools
Traditional HR in schools often means overburdened SLT and office staff juggling things like hiring, compliance, staff management (and more) without the dedicated support.
The result?
HR gets unintentionally sidelined – leading to staff feeling unsupported and schools struggling with retention.
One in three teachers (33%) leave the profession within five years of qualifying.
Source: Department for Education, England – School Workforce Census, 2023
In today’s climate, human resources for schools can’t be an afterthought.
Common problems schools face without appropriate HR in place:
- Overburdened office staff and SLT
- Delayed recruitment, retention and onboarding
- Inconsistent performance appraisals
- Risky compliance gaps
- MIS systems that do the bare minimum
If any of this resonates, keep on reading.
So… what’s the solution?
Of course, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to human resources for schools. Each school is different. But many settings are increasingly turning to technology to help cure their HR headaches.
HR software for education can help to cut down on general admin, streamline recruitment and onboarding, generate reports, manage staff and much more. Though, it’s important to understand that not all HR systems are the same - and will offer varying levels of functionality.
We encourage you to do your due diligence: shortlist a few suppliers and take advantage of free demos to truly see what the software can do for you.
Also, take note of how the supplier communicates with you – as this will provide a good indication of how effective their customer service will be. Remember: it’s not just software, it’s a partnership.
Here's what The Circle Trust has to say about us...
“It feels like a real partnership, not just a transaction. That’s rare.”
The Circle Trust
What should a HR platform do for your school?
There are a number of solutions on the market aimed to improve human resources for schools. We’ll cover some popular options below, but when in the market for your next HR solution, look for the following key features:
Employee record management
Absence management
Performance appraisals
Employee self-service portal
Reporting and analytics
Recruitment and onboarding
Integrated payroll
Schools and Trusts choose Access Education People for all their HR needs
Additional HR software features also worth a mention
While these aren’t core functionalities, these small and simple software features can make all the difference:
- Peer-to-peer shoutouts (like Access Applause). These are simple appreciation features that your team can use to show recognition to their colleagues, increasing positivity and morale.
- Early access to salary (like Access EarlyPay). We all know how tight things can sometimes get towards the end of the month. With tools like Access EarlyPay, your staff can access part of their salary before payday using our handy app. This is a great way to help your staff manage their finances, and a great perk.
- Salary extras (like Access Salary Extras). Some HR platforms provide an employee benefits portal, offering a range of benefits from gym passes to gadget schemes.
- Learning Management System (LMS) (like Access LMS). We all know how important CPD is – not just for newly-qualified teachers, but for everyone. A HR system that offers an integrated LMS is a convenient and effective way to ensure your team stays on top of their professional development.
How schools and trusts are benefiting from better human resources for schools
By implementing advanced HR software specifically designed for education, these schools saw significant benefits.
The Circle Trust
Debra Briault, Chief Operating Officer of The Circle Trust, comments that they couldn’t keep doing things the way they always had always done them, particularly during rapid growth.
“We were growing, but we couldn’t keep doing things the way we always had. We needed a better way to support our schools. Not just now, but as we kept growing.”
Aquila Trust
Naomi Jackman, Head of Payroll at Aquila Trust, comments how automation has helped free up time.
"There's definitely a reduced workload, and the automation of tasks has been a big benefit".
The Vale Federation
For the Vale Federation, they wanted ultimate functionality across all their back-office operations. That’s why they decided to implement the entire Access Education Suite. Business Director Steve Parkinson comments,
“The integration between HR, payroll, and finance has been a game changer - it’s saved us time and eliminated human error”.
Watch the Vale Federations's full story below:
Whether you’re a growing school or part of a MAT, Access Education’s HR software is designed to make your life that little bit easier!
HR software providers to consider for your school
Why Access Education People stands out as an effective human resources for schools solution
- Comprehensive HR system with integrated payroll, budgeting, and reporting
- Advanced modules including recruitment, screening, and learning management
- Education-first approach tailored to schools, academies, and MATs
- User autonomy with employee self-service on any device
- Data compliance and security with automated backups
- Flexible deployment through Access Evo, with cloud-based access
See Access Education People in action
FAQs about human resources for schools
What is human resources software for schools?
Human resources software for schools is a digital solution designed to help educational institutions manage HR functions like recruitment, payroll, absence tracking, performance evaluations, and compliance. Access Education People provides a school-specific HR platform tailored to meet these needs efficiently.
How does Access Education People support human resources for schools?
Access Education People offers a comprehensive, cloud-based HR system built specifically for schools, academies, and MATs. It includes employee self-service, recruitment tools, sickness and leave tracking, appraisals, integrated payroll, and real-time reporting—all designed to streamline school HR processes.
Can Access Education People help with school recruitment and onboarding?
Yes. Our recruitment module gives schools a branded careers portal, manages the entire hiring process, and simplifies onboarding through automated workflows, digital offer letters, and compliance checks—all in one place.
Is the software suitable for multi-academy trusts?
Absolutely. Our HR software for schools scales effortlessly across MATs, with tools to manage multi-site staff, different contracts, pension schemes, and consolidated reporting—all from a single platform.
How does your HR system reduce admin for school staff?
Our employee self-service tools empower staff to update personal details, view payslips, request leave, and submit expenses and timesheets. This reduces the workload on admin teams and improves accuracy and efficiency.
Is your human resources software compliant with education sector regulations?
Yes. Access Education People supports compliance with teacher pension schemes (TPS/MCR), safer recruitment practices, statutory reporting, and more. It also includes automated alerts for key HR tasks like expiring DBS checks.
Can the system integrate with other school management software?
Yes. Our HR system seamlessly integrates with Access Education Budgets and other Access solutions, ensuring consistent data and eliminating duplication across systems.
What kind of reporting is available in your school HR system?
We offer over 100 pre-built reports on areas like absence, turnover, and staffing, plus custom dashboards and automated report scheduling—making it easy to keep governors, leadership, and finance teams informed.
Is training and support available for schools using your HR software?
Yes. We offer full onboarding, training, and dedicated customer support from education-focused experts to ensure you get the most out of your system.
How secure is your HR software for schools?
Security is a top priority. Our cloud-based platform includes automated backups, secure data storage, and strict user permissions to keep your school’s HR data safe and compliant.
Schedule your demo today
Human resources for schools cannot be ignored, especially in today’s climate. To see if Access Education People would be a good fit for your school or trust, why not schedule your live, no-obligation demo?
