School HR Recruitment in London
EduExec Recruitment is a specialist agency that recruits HR professionals for schools, academies and multi-academy trusts across London and the Home Counties, from HR Officers to trust HR Directors. Every search is run personally by Luke Johnson, who holds the CIPD Level 7 qualification and has over 12 years' experience in education recruitment.
Employment law is one of the fastest-changing areas of law, and the demand on HR professionals to keep pace with it is intense. Education raises that bar further. The Burgundy Book, teachers' pay and conditions, NJC grades for support staff, unionised workforces and safeguarding all sit alongside the usual casework, and getting any of them wrong in a school carries real consequences.
The roles I recruit
- HR Officers and HR Advisers
- HR Managers in schools and academies
- Heads of HR and HR Business Partners in trusts
- HR and People Directors in multi-academy trusts
- Recruitment and compliance leads, including Single Central Record ownership
Why school experience matters so much
There is a huge advantage in appointing someone who already has school experience, and for senior HR roles it is arguably sought after more than in most other areas of school support. Someone who already knows the Burgundy Book, has worked with the teaching unions and understands safer recruitment can add value from their first week.
A move from another sector isn't impossible. What helps most is being able to get up to speed quickly, and some crossover goes a long way: experience of a unionised workforce, or of another regulated environment such as health or local government, gives a candidate a much stronger starting point.
CIPD and qualifications
CIPD is the leading HR qualification, and the level usually tracks the seniority of the role. Level 3 suits HR administrator and officer roles, Level 5 is typical for HR Business Partners and HR Managers, and Level 7 is the benchmark for head of department and director appointments. Holding CIPD Level 7 myself means I can test candidates' casework, employment law and judgement in depth before you meet them.
Reaching senior HR candidates
Senior HR people in education very rarely scour job boards. Increasingly, the clients I work with become candidates and candidates become clients, so I know many of these people first-hand, both as professionals and as people to work with. That makes it much easier to reach the right person for a senior HR appointment, including people who wouldn't otherwise have seen your role.
The question I always ask candidates
It may sound slightly clichéd, but I ask senior HR candidates which achievement they're most proud of. The answer itself is interesting, but what matters more is what sits beneath it: the scale of the issue, how they addressed it, and which area of HR they take most pride in. That tells me a great deal about their motivations and skill set, and therefore where they'll fit best.
What I look for
- Employee relations. Handling casework fairly and confidently, including with unions.
- Pay frameworks. STPCD and the Burgundy Book for teachers, and NJC grades for support staff.
- Safer recruitment. Single Central Record ownership, DBS checks and KCSIE.
- Change. Workforce planning, restructures and TUPE during academy conversions.
How it works
The process is the same for every role: a proper briefing conversation, direct approach to candidates alongside a targeted advert, a screening interview with every candidate before you see them, a short and honest shortlist, and support through to start date. Fees are a percentage of the first year's salary, agreed before the search begins.
Frequently asked questions
What do school HR roles pay?
Ranges are indicative and depend on location, the size and type of school or trust, and the scope of the role. Typically, though, HR Officers earn £27,000 to £35,000, HR Managers £40,000 to £55,000, Heads of HR £50,000 to £70,000 and HR Directors £70,000 and above. I'm happy to give a more accurate range to any school considering an appointment.
Do you recruit HR roles for MAT central teams?
Yes, from HR Officers through to trust-wide HR and People Directors.
Do you recruit HR roles in independent schools?
Yes. Independent schools have their own terms and conditions and often a smaller HR function, so whilst it isn't an entirely different skill set, being conscious of those subtleties is important.
Talk to me about your vacancy
If you're recruiting an HR role, I'd be very happy to talk it through, formally or informally. Call me on 07359 924773 or email luke.johnson@eduexec-recruitment.com.