School HR Manager, KPI EDUCATION

Guardian Jobs; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

KPI Education is assisting a London school in appointing a School HR Manager to lead the HR function, reporting to the Headteacher and senior leadership team. The role covers recruitment, absence, safeguarding, and employment legislation, with scope to influence people strategy and school culture.

The successful candidate will be an experienced education HR professional, able to advise on complex employee relations and policy development, with October 2026 or January 2027 start and a salary

Qualifications

• Experience leading HR within education.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and safeguarding.
• CIPD qualification is advantageous.
• Experience with teacher contracts (Burgundy/Green Book) and safeguarding processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day HR function and advise SLT on employment matters.
• Oversee recruitment and onboarding.
• Support safer recruitment and safeguarding compliance.
• Maintain the Single Central Record with colleagues.
• Manage absence and occupational health processes.
• Advise on disciplinary and grievance matters.
• Support capability and performance-management processes.
• Handle maternity, flexible working and contractual changes.
• Produce and review employment documentation.
• Support restructuring and organisational change.
• Review HR policies and procedures.
• Monitor workforce data and HR trends.
• Support staff wellbeing and retention initiatives.
• Collaborate with payroll, finance and external HR/legal advisers.
• Develop efficient HR systems and processes.

Skills

HR management

Employee relations

Recruitment

Absence management

Performance management

Safeguarding

Employment legislation

Education

CIPD qualification

Job description

School HR Manager – London

People. Culture. Compliance. Be the HR Leader a Great School Depends On.

October 2026 or January 2027 Start | Full-Time | Permanent | £45,000–£60,000 DOE

Are you an experienced HR Manager or senior HR professional who understands the unique demands of working within education?

Can you confidently advise senior leaders on employee relations, recruitment, absence, performance, safeguarding and employment legislation?

Pperhaps you're already the person your organisation turns to when the situation is complicated – and you're ready for a role offering greater autonomy, influence and progression?

KPI Education is exclusively supporting an ambitious and successful London school to appoint an exceptional School HR Manager for an October 2026 or January 2027 start.

The school's identity is being kept confidential during the initial stages, but if you're an experienced education HR professional considering your next move, this opportunity is worth a conversation.

School HR Manager – The Headlines

• School HR Manager
• London
• £45,000–£60,000, dependent on experience
• Permanent, full-time position
• October 2026 or January 2027 start
• Take ownership of the school's HR function
• Work directly alongside the Headteacher and senior leadership team
• Lead on recruitment, retention and workforce planning
• Manage complex employee relations cases
• Responsibility for HR policies and procedures
• Oversee safer recruitment and HR compliance
• Manage and develop HR/administrative support
• Opportunity to influence people strategy and school culture
• Excellent potential for future progression

This Isn't an HR Role Hidden Away in an Office

The school wants an HR Manager who will become a trusted adviser to leadership.

You’ll be visible, approachable and confident enough to challenge when required.

One day you could be advising the Headteacher on a complex employee relations matter; the next, reviewing recruitment strategy, supporting an absence case or identifying how the school can improve staff retention.

You’ll have the opportunity to move beyond transactional HR and make a genuine contribution to the school’s people and culture strategy.

What Will You Take Ownership Of?

Your remit will include:

• Leading the day-to-day HR function
• Advising SLT on employment matters
• Managing recruitment and onboarding
• Supporting safer recruitment and safeguarding compliance
• Maintaining the Single Central Record alongside relevant colleagues
• Managing absence and occupational health processes
• Advising on disciplinary and grievance matters
• Supporting capability and performance-management processes
• Managing maternity, flexible working and contractual changes
• Producing and reviewing employment documentation
• Supporting restructuring and organisational change
• Reviewing HR policies and procedures
• Monitoring workforce data and HR trends
• Supporting staff wellbeing and retention initiatives
• Working with payroll, finance and external HR/legal advisers
• Developing efficient HR systems and processes

Who Are We Looking For?

KPI Education would particularly like to hear from:

School HR Managers | HR Business Partners | Senior HR Advisers | Trust HR Managers | People Managers | Education HR Professionals

Previous experience within a school, academy, college or Multi-Academy Trust would be highly desirable.

A CIPD qualification would be advantageous, alongside a strong understanding of UK employment legislation and HR best practice.

Experience dealing with education-specific matters such as teacher contracts, Burgundy Book, Green Book, safer recruitment and safeguarding would make you particularly attractive to the school.

Most importantly, you'll need the confidence to deal with sensitive and complex situations calmly, professionally and commercially.

Why Is This Opportunity Different?

Because HR has a genuine seat at the table.

The Headteacher wants somebody who can look beyond individual cases and ask:

"How do we attract, develop and retain exceptional people?"

You’ll have the opportunity to influence recruitment strategy, staff development, wellbeing, retention and organisational culture while ensuring the school remains compliant and professionally supported.

For an ambitious HR professional, there is also potential to progress towards Head of HR, People Director or Trust-wide HR leadership in the future.

Great schools recruit great people. Exceptional HR leaders make sure they stay.