A comparison of 6 HR providers for schools

Selecting the right education HR services requires careful consideration of several factors to ensure the solution aligns with your institution's needs.

Pricing

While some HR providers for schools offer tiered pricing models based on the size of your school or the number of users, others may charge for add-on features or modules. Understanding the total cost, including any hidden fees, can help avoid surprises later. 

Scalability

As schools grow, so do their administrative needs. It’s crucial to choose a system that can scale with your institution - whether you’re expanding into a multi-academy trust or simply hiring additional staff. Ensure the platform can handle increased complexity, such as multi-contract support or larger employee databases.

Customer support

Schools often require quick, reliable support to address issues like payroll discrepancies or system outages. Investigate the provider’s customer service offerings, such as dedicated school-focused teams, 24/7 support, or self-service help centers.

User experience

HR software should be intuitive and easy to use for both HR teams and employees. Systems that require minimal training and have a straightforward interface can save valuable time and reduce frustration. Check for mobile accessibility if staff need to use the system on the go.

Future-proofing

Select a system that can grow with your school’s evolving needs. It’s ideal to choose a platform that offers essential features you need now while allowing for additional modules or capabilities as your school’s requirements change. Ensure the system integrates seamlessly with other technology your school uses to create a cohesive digital ecosystem.

Access Education People

Overview:

Access Education People is a comprehensive HR provider for schools designed specifically for the education sector. It provides a user-friendly platform with a range of essential features, from sickness and leave tracking to performance management and employee self-service. What sets Access Education People apart is its focus on helping schools manage their workforce efficiently, with additional features like on-demand pay, which can support school staff with immediate access to earned wages. This makes it an attractive option for schools aiming to improve HR processes and staff satisfaction. The software is also known for its flexibility, offering a range of modules that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of educational institutions.

Key Features:

• On-demand pay
• Teacher pensions (TPS, MCR) management
• Recruitment and onboarding flows
• Employee self-service
• Analytics and performance appraisals
• Integrated managed payroll services

You can now ‘bundle up’ with Access Education

Access Education has introduced three new software bundles tailored to meet the needs of schools, trusts and academies: Financial Focus, Thriving People, and Freedom. These bundles provide cost-effective solutions by offering fixed per-school pricing, removing the complexity of per-employee or per-pupil fees.
This approach ensures predictable costs, making it easier for schools to plan budgets effectively. Each bundle integrates seamlessly across modules, providing a single source of truth for data. This consolidation improves efficiency and supports better decision-making through clear, connected insights.

The bundles are designed to deliver value, with a price promise that ensures they cost less than purchasing individual modules. Schools can benefit from simplified operations, reduced administrative overhead, and tools that work cohesively to support their objectives.

Discover more about our pricing bundles »

View our customer success stories in PDF – to see how schools and trusts are benefiting from our HR and payroll solutions.

Every

Overview:

Every offers an intuitive and cloud-based HR software for schools. It focuses on simplifying HR processes while delivering key functionalities like performance management, employee self-service, and recruitment. A notable feature of Every is its comprehensive employee benefits portal, making it a great choice for schools looking to provide staff with easy access to their benefits. The platform also supports advanced HR features such as workforce census returns and case management, providing additional value for schools that need more in-depth HR capabilities. Every is a flexible solution with customisable modules that can scale according to the size and specific needs of the school.

Key Features:

• Workforce census returns
• Employee benefit portal
• Multi-contract and disciplinary support
• Onboarding flows and performance evaluations
• Analytics and integrations

MHR (iTrent)

Overview:

When it comes to school HR services, MHR (iTrent) is a robust HR and payroll system that offers a comprehensive suite of tools for schools. It is designed to handle complex HR processes, including multi-contract support, performance appraisals, and case management. iTrent stands out for its powerful data analytics capabilities and its ability to integrate with various third-party systems, making it an ideal choice for schools that need a highly customisable solution. With a strong focus on workforce management, MHR (iTrent) helps schools manage administrative tasks such as payroll and reporting while ensuring compliance with teacher pension requirements and other regulations.

Key Features:

• Multi-contract and case management
• Teacher pensions (TPS, MCR) management
• Analytics and integrations
• Recruitment and employee self-service
• Workforce census returns

SAM People

Overview:

SAM People provides an all-in-one HR provider for schools that simplifies complex HR. Known for its user-friendly interface, SAM People focuses on making HR processes more efficient, such as recruitment, performance management, and training. It also supports key functions like employee self-service, sickness tracking, and teacher pension management. Although SAM People is particularly valued for its straightforward approach to HR, it also offers flexibility with a range of modules that can be tailored to the specific needs of educational institutions. It's an excellent option for schools looking for a scalable solution that grows with their needs.

Key Features:

• Performance & appraisals
• Recruitment modules
• Teacher pensions (TPS, MCR) support
• Training management
• Onboarding flows

Civica

Overview:

Civica is a leading provider of cloud-based HR software, offering school HR services designed to improve HR management. Its platform provides essential HR features such as recruitment, performance management, and employee self-service. Civica’s unique strength lies in its powerful analytics tools and its ability to integrate with other school management systems. This makes it particularly useful for schools looking to gain deeper insights into their workforce data. Civica’s user-friendly interface and comprehensive suite of HR tools ensure that schools can handle all aspects of HR management effectively.

Key Features:

• Employee self-service
• Recruitment and onboarding
• Teacher pensions (TPS, MCR) support
• Analytics and performance evaluations
• Training management and integrations

Strictly Education

Overview:

Strictly Education offers a dedicated HR providers for schools with an emphasis on ease of use and comprehensive support. It is particularly known for its case management and disciplinary capabilities, providing schools with tools to manage sensitive HR situations effectively. Strictly Education also supports features such as employee self-service, sickness tracking, and performance management. With a focus on schools' unique needs, this platform offers robust support for teacher pensions and pay scales, ensuring compliance with the specific regulatory requirements of the education sector.

Key Features:

• Case management and disciplinary support
• Teacher pensions (TPS, MCR) management
• Sickness and leave tracking
• Performance appraisals and training
• TLR/Additions and pay scale management

The landscape of HR software is evolving rapidly, driven by advancements in technology and the unique challenges schools face. Here are some key trends shaping the market:

1. AI-Powered insights: Artificial intelligence is becoming a critical component of HR software, enabling predictive analytics to forecast staffing needs, identify trends in absences, and enhance recruitment strategies.
2. Mobile accessibility: With staff increasingly working remotely or on the go, mobile-friendly platforms allow for seamless access to HR tools, from submitting leave requests to reviewing payslips.
3. Integrated platforms: Schools are prioritising software that integrates HR, payroll, and finance systems to minimise administrative duplication and improve data accuracy.
4. Self-service portals: Employee self-service tools empower staff to manage their own data, request time off, and access essential documents, reducing the workload on HR teams.
5. Wellness and engagement tools: Features like employee benefits portals, mental health resources, and recognition systems are gaining traction as schools place greater emphasis on staff well-being and retention.
6. Full-cycle HR systems: A growing trend is the adoption of full-cycle HR systems that manage the entire employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding to career development and offboarding. These systems not only meet current needs but also allow schools to plan for future requirements, adapting to changes in workforce size, policy, and operations.

Conclusion

Choosing the right HR providers for schools is a critical decision for any school, as it directly impacts administrative efficiency, staff satisfaction, and compliance.

Each of the six providers compared in this article—Access Education People, Every, MHR (iTrent), SAM People, Civica, and Strictly Education—offers unique strengths and features. While some, like Access Education People, stand out for innovative options such as on-demand pay, others, like MHR (iTrent) and Every, excel in handling complex multi-contract or compliance needs.

Ultimately, the best choice will depend on your school’s specific requirements, budget, and long-term goals. Investing in the right HR software will not only reduce administrative burdens but also support a happier, more productive school workforce.

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