The HFL Education Business Services Podcast - The recruitment and retention crisis; how can school leaders adapt? Part 1

HFL Education · Jul 10, 2026 · 16m · transcript

Recruitment and retention are some of the biggest challenges facing schools, with staff shortages, rising absence and increasing workload placing significant pressure on leaders. But are schools asking the right questions, and what can leaders do differently to build a sustainable workforce for the future?

In this episode, Catherine Loake is joined by Alex Tomkins, Headteacher of Greenside School, to explore how schools can move beyond simply filling vacancies and develop a long-term people strategy that supports recruitment, retention and staff wellbeing.

Drawing on his experience at…