People Strategy

What is a people strategy & why is it important?

People strategy, or HR strategy, is about creating a planned framework for employees to be recruited, managed and developed in ways that supports an organisation’s long-term goals. A people strategy is critical in the education sector to ensure that establishments have the right people, with the right skills, knowledge and experience, in the right roles, at the right time. It is a comprehensive plan for schools and academy trusts to manage their workforce in a way that supports its overall goals and objectives whilst addressing the specific challenges and opportunities of the education sector.

A people strategy considers the needs of employees, increases job satisfaction, motivation and commitment, with the overall goal of improving pupil outcomes. This helps to build a culture of excellence and achieve positive academic outcomes that benefit the wider community. By implementing a people strategy, schools and multi-academy trusts can enable their workforce to achieve the organisation’s vision and mission, by focusing on objectives aligned with agreed core values. This type of alignment can improve retention, enhance employee engagement, increase productivity, and ultimately improve pupil outcomes.  

There is no single People strategy that works in all cases. Schools / Academy Trusts and Colleges must define their own individual strategy according to their specific context, culture and objectives.

The Department for Education has recently focused on the importance of People Strategy following the updates made to  School Workforce Planning guidance  in December 2023. The updated guidance document places a greater emphasis on the people and data management aspects of workforce planning introducing 6 principles to guide leaders' decision-making, including: 'have a clear school vision, underpinned by a people strategy'.

What should be included in a People strategy?

The components of a people strategy should support your organisation’s vision and mission statements and may vary depending on your size, structure, and goals, but they generally include:

• Recruitment and Retention
• Employee Engagement
• Talent Management
• Rewards Strategy
• Professional Development
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

In addition to these components, a people strategy should also take into account the unique challenges and opportunities of the education sector. For example, schools and academy trusts may face staffing shortages in certain subject areas, such as STEM or SEND, or may struggle to attract and retain teachers in certain geographic areas or socio-economic communities. A people strategy should address these challenges in a proactive and strategic way, by developing targeted strategies or partnering with other organisations to share resources and expertise.

A People strategy is the overall framework that integrates the different areas of HR into objectives to deliver organisational success. A people strategy is critical to the success of any organisation, including schools and academy trusts. A well-designed people strategy can help attract and retain top talent, support employee development and growth, and ultimately contribute to improved outcomes. However, developing and implementing an effective people strategy can be a challenging task, particularly for those in the education sector who face unique challenges and constraints.

Using HR Metrics to support your People Strategy

We developed an e-book to help you to navigate essential HR metrics, demonstrating how this data can be used more strategically to inform decision-making.

ACCESS: The Importance of Data-driven HR for Strategic Decision Making

We have created a comprehensive guide to developing and enhancing your people strategy in the Education Sector, for Headteachers, School Business Leaders, and HR Managers in Schools and Academy Trusts, and you can access it here. 

ACCESS: People Strategy Guide