A Department for Education survey published in June 2023 found that 40,000 teachers left state schools in 2021-22 before retirement. While there are ways to increase teacher retention, onboarding is one way to improve retention. With the new academic term just around the corner, how are you onboarding new teachers?

The benefits of effective onboarding

Effective onboarding goes beyond reducing the number of teachers who leave within the first term. Benefits include:

• It creates a strong sense of belonging among newly hired teachers.

• It leads to greater job satisfaction.

• Improved teacher performance.

• Better long-term commitment.

• It creates a stable and thriving school that benefits staff and students.

Early stages

Onboarding shouldn’t wait until the first day of school. Effective onboarding starts from the acceptance of the contract. There are touch points in the lead to the new school term, and it is here that schools can make a difference.

A straightforward compliance process

How user-friendly is the process for accepting contracts, offer letters, and completing checks like DBS and Right-to-Work? A specialist education recruitment agency such as Holden Knight Education can help.

Pre-onboarding communication

After a teacher accepts the offer, start communication. This includes welcome emails, information about the school, and regular check-ins.

Step-by-step guide to effective teacher onboarding

Teachaway’s 2022 International Education Recruitment Report found that 41% of teaching candidates would quit their jobs if they were not onboarded or trained properly. Yet, there are effective strategies for onboarding teaching staff to help reduce drop-off rates.

Review the new teacher handbook

A teacher or employee handbook should include information about school rules and emergency procedures. A school map, timetable, and other reference documents should be included. An online and printed version should be available.

Give access to technology or resources

The onboarding process should give teaching staff information about where to find what they need. List the tech available as well as any log-in details. Ensure the email address and security passes are set up correctly and in advance.

Tailor the welcome experience

New starter in the STEM department? Or the history department? Ensure the onboarding experience and messaging align with the school and department's ethos and culture. Include information about the department and its staff. You might include information such as exam grades, regular meetings, field trips, and resources.

The first day

The first day should be well-organised, welcoming, and informative. Ensure your new teachers know who to report to, where to park, and arrival time for their first day. They need to know where to find their classroom(s) with a key or access code.

Staff and departmental meetings

Give new teachers opportunities to attend staff and team meetings. This builds rapport with other staff members and gives new teachers a sense of camaraderie.

Mentoring

Having a mentor can help new teachers, such as NQTs, adjust to their teaching roles by providing a resource they can speak to when they have questions or need help.

Professional development planning

Identify a teacher’s goals and areas for improvement and set out CPD opportunities to help them meet their goals.

Ongoing support

Continue the post-onboarding process with regular check-ins, constructive feedback, and professional development opportunities.

Extend your onboarding

Remember, onboarding isn’t only for new teachers. If you have returners to work, such as teachers returning from parental leave or a sabbatical, processes, school policies, and systems may have changed and a version of onboarding can be beneficial. The same goes for supply teachers on a long-term placement at your school.

Measure the success of your onboarding

To improve your school onboarding process, schools should measure its effectiveness.

• Collect feedback from new teachers about their experience.

• Keep track of early-stage retention rates.

• Evaluate the impact of onboarding on initial teaching performance.

Laying the foundation for teacher retention and success

When a good teacher leaves your school, the whole school feels the impact, from pupils to teachers. Effective teacher onboarding gives new teachers the support they need to become part of the school community. Successful onboarding forms the foundations for a long and fulfilling career for teachers. The lack of it may leave teachers feeling adrift and searching for another school. A major reason that teachers leave their schools is when they don’t feel supported. By understanding the role of early engagement, streamlining administrative processes, and customising your onboarding, you’ll help to ensure all new teachers are ready to thrive.

Holden Knight Education works with schools to provide permanent staff and supply cover. Contact us today.