Access Education People
Education recruitment software: Why the sector needs its own recruitment tools
Hiring in education doesn’t just fill vacancies - it shapes futures. With government recruitment targets missed year after year and record numbers of teachers leaving the profession, the sector is under growing pressure to hire better, faster, and smarter.
Yet many schools and trusts are still using outdated or generic recruitment tools - or worse, manual processes that simply don’t scale. At a time when technology has transformed recruitment across other sectors, the recruitment in education sector can't afford to be left behind.
Education’s recruitment crisis: a wake-up call
In 2023, secondary teacher recruitment missed its government target by over 50%. Physics, computing, and design & technology roles were some of the hardest hit, with vacancies rising and applications falling.
Meanwhile, 40,000 teachers left the profession in just one year.
It’s not just about attracting new talent - retaining staff is just as challenging. Schools report mounting admin loads, inspection pressures, and inflexible working conditions as key reasons why even passionate educators are reconsidering their future.
In this climate, schools can no longer afford inefficient recruitment systems or outdated processes that put barriers in the way of great candidates. They need education recruitment software that’s purpose-built to support the unique demands of schools and trusts.
We've partnered with SchoolRecruiter!
Why generic recruitment tools fall short
Most commercial Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) were designed for corporate hiring teams - where roles are standardised, compliance is minimal, and recruitment is ongoing. But education is different.
In schools and trusts:
- Compliance is non-negotiable - KCSIE, DBS checks, and safeguarding audits are critical
- Timelines are tight - recruitment windows follow term cycles, not rolling vacancies
- Budgets are under pressure - agency costs and advertising fees are rising
- Teams are stretched - many HR leads manage payroll, policies, and onboarding too
Generic tools don’t adapt well to these realities – leading to clunky workflows, missed candidates, and compliance risks. This is where education recruitment software purpose-built for schools makes a transformative difference.
Candidates expect better
Today’s candidates - especially early-career teachers - expect simple, mobile-first application processes and timely communication. Unfortunately, many school job listings are buried on static websites or hidden behind paper forms.
With 73% of education professionals considered “passive candidates,” relying solely on job boards no longer cuts it. Your future team is on social media, browsing job alerts via email, or scrolling LinkedIn - not checking TES every week.
If your process isn’t built for this digital-first reality, your school risks losing top talent to faster-moving institutions. The right education recruitment software delivers a seamless, engaging candidate experience.
The power of multichannel and automation
Smart recruitment isn’t about doing more - it’s about working smarter.
With the right tools, you can:
- Advertise across multiple channels automatically
- Track where your best candidates are coming from
- Engage both active and passive candidates with targeted outreach
- Automate comms, shortlisting, scheduling, and onboarding tasks
Schools using modern, education-specific platforms have seen applications double in their first week and reduced their time-to-hire significantly. That’s not just efficient — it’s transformative.
From manual to modern: the path forward
The evolution is clear:
- Manual hiring: Paper forms, emails, spreadsheets - error-prone and time-intensive
- Generic ATS: A step up, but not built for schools' pace or compliance needs
- Education-specific systems: Designed for your roles, rules, and resources
With systems like SchoolRecruiter — now integrated with Access Education People — recruitment becomes part of your HR and payroll ecosystem, not a separate burden.
Integrated tools, designed for you
Access Education + SchoolRecruiter gives you:
- A single place to manage recruitment, HR, onboarding, and payroll
- Multichannel vacancy advertising powered by education expertise
- In-platform compliance management (DBS, KCSIE, Right to Work)
- Real-time analytics to inform better hiring decisions
- A mobile-friendly, branded candidate experience that builds your reputation
You’re not just replacing a form – you’re empowering your people with a modern education applicant tracking system that works as hard as they do.
Take the lead in a changing landscape
As schools face rising recruitment pressures, falling application rates, and growing workload challenges, standing still is no longer an option.
With the right education recruitment software – built for the recruitment in education sector – you can reduce admin, save budget, improve compliance, and hire better people.
Book a walkthrough to see how Access Education and SchoolRecruiter can help your team.
