Strategic Workforce Planning in the Education Sector

Schools and academy trusts are recognising the importance of strategic workforce planning.

The aim of workforce planning is to ensure that your organisation has the workforce it needs to achieve its objectives. Workforce planning should start with an understanding of the organisation, which means looking both externally at the evolving regulatory context and shifting pupil needs in addition to examining strategy and culture. A proactive approach can ensure that establishments have the right people in the right roles at the right time and are able to adapt to the changing needs.

Updated guidance from the Department of Education issued in late 2023 places a greater emphasis on the people and data management aspects of workforce planning.

The guidance introduces 6 principles to guide leaders' decision-making:

Have a clear school vision, underpinned by a people strategy;
Invest in the development of people;
Review working practices to ensure staff can focus on what matters;
Be data and evidence-led when making decisions about staffing;
Be creative, saving where you can in order to invest elsewhere;
Have a culture, system and processes that enable staff to be deployed flexibly across schools.

Practical Steps and Benefits of Strategic Workforce Planning

There are a number of practical steps schools can take when approaching strategic workforce planning.

Understand your current workforce - define workforce groups for planning purposes, pull together baseline data and engage with managers to understand their resourcing concerns.
Assess future workforce supply – this involves understanding relevant external labour markets as well as likely patterns of leaving and the availability of internal talent and successors for critical posts or workforce groups.
Use analysis to identify the gaps between future demand and supply - leading to resourcing options and action to address possible resourcing risks.
Create clear and realistic action plans followed up with monitoring and evaluation.
Focus on developing accurate and consistent data, which is easily accessible to support planning and decision making,

Leaders have a duty to ensure their school finances are robustly managed and their efforts ultimately contribute to achieving optimal pupil outcomes. Strategic workforce planning enables deployment of resources in an effective and efficient way, allowing school leaders to achieve their goals.

The Role of HR Services in Strategic Workforce Planning

HR services play a crucial role in supporting schools and academy trusts in their strategic workforce planning efforts. From recruitment and selection to professional development and compliance, these services provide the expertise and tools necessary to navigate the complexities of the education sector. By utilising HR services, establishments can focus on their core mission of delivering quality education, confident in their ability to manage and develop their workforce effectively.

Strategic workforce planning is more than a simple HR function; it's a critical strategic imperative for schools and academy trusts aiming to achieve optimal pupil outcomes. With the support of specialised HR services like those offered by Strictly Education, educational institutions can navigate the complexities of staffing and regulatory compliance, ensuring they are well-positioned to meet the challenges of today's educational landscape. As the sector continues to evolve, the partnership between schools, academy trusts, and HR service providers will undoubtedly be crucial to success.

How Strictly Education can help…

With a comprehensive suite of services, from payroll and HR management and compliance to professional development and strategic HR consultancy, Strictly Education is equipped to support schools and academy trusts in every aspect of workforce planning. Our expert team, understand the unique challenges of the education sector, working closely with schools, academies and colleges to tailor solutions that meet their specific needs, driving improvements in staff engagement, compliance, and overall educational delivery.

Additionally, our HR Resources Hub offers a range of comprehensive guidance and a variety of valuable tools and templates on a range of HR matters. If you are not currently a subscriber, you can register for a FREE 7-day trial of our HR resources. This trial provides access to over 1000 sector-specific web pages and downloadable materials specifically designed for schools, academy trusts, and sixth form colleges in England. Sign up now to benefit from this trial and explore the wealth of HR resources available to you.

Get in touch to find out more on 0330 123 2549 or at enquire@strictlyeducation.co.uk we are happy to answer your questions.