Supporting Education Group has released a major piece of research on workforce resourcing and talent management in schools.

The 9-page report, which can be downloaded here, uncovers the main challenges that schools encounter in recruiting, retaining and managing staff, and the techniques they use to do so more effectively.

The research draws on survey data from leaders at over 700 schools and academies across the country. This data was collected over a two-week period in the 2021-22 academic year. Respondents came from all types and sizes of schools in many regions.

The report illustrates the current tensions in the teaching job market and schools’ preferred means of navigating them. We also asked leaders how they anticipated their chosen techniques to change in the future. The research serves as both a snapshot of current conditions in the teaching market and a guide to what might come next.

Among other insights, our report found that:

• 80% of schools find recruitment and retention their biggest staffing challenge
• 90% of schools are changing their working practices to reduce workload
• Schools see pay as their most important lever for improving recruitment and retention

Our strategy director, Sam Raven, commented on the report:

“This exciting piece of research provides insights around the challenges faced by senior leaders and those working in HR within schools and multi-academy trusts. I’m glad to be working within a business that is focused on tackling these challenges, especially in the current environment with talent management becoming even more difficult for schools”.

For the full picture of how school leaders are sourcing and keeping teaching staff in 2022, download the report for free.