Why School and Campus Culture is Crucial in Attracting Top Talent

People don’t just choose a job. They choose the culture

Any experienced principal or education leader will tell you, great educators don’t just choose a job based on salary or timetables. They prefer a culture. The question for leaders is: What kind of culture are you offering?

Culture: Your Strategic Edge in Recruitment

For many years, hiring decisions in education were essentially about credentials and curriculum fit. But that model is outdated. Today, educators—especially those passionate, skilled and driven by purpose—seek something more profound. They want to work in schools that:

• Lead with purpose, not just policy
• Prioritise wellbeing, not just workloads
• Encourage collaboration, not competition
• Foster inclusion, voice, and shared responsibility

Culture isn’t about a morning tea or footy tips. It’s about what your organisation stands for, how it operates daily, and whether people feel they genuinely belong.

What Great Culture Looks Like in Education

In practice, a strong workplace culture might mean:

• A leadership team that genuinely listens—and acts
• Opportunities for ongoing professional growth
• Flexibility that acknowledges educators have lives outside of work
• Safe, transparent communication channels
• Celebrating progress, not just perfection

The unspoken atmosphere either lifts staff up or wears them down. This means that culture must be more than a mission statement for principals and leadership teams. It needs to be lived, led and learnt.

Why Educators Walk Away—Or Stay

A 2023 survey of Australian school staff found that workplace culture and leadership were among the top three factors influencing retention. Educators do not expect perfection but want to feel valued, supported, and part of something bigger.

The truth is that toxic, unclear or inconsistent cultures will drive even the most committed staff out the door. On the other hand, a healthy culture makes people stay, even through the tough seasons.

How to Make Culture a Priority as a Leader

You don’t need a full-time culture manager to shift the dial. You need clear intent, consistent leadership, and shared ownership. Here’s how educational leaders can lead the way:

• Make culture part of strategic planning—not a side note
• Gather honest feedback and act on it
• Model the behaviours you expect: empathy, accountability, and optimism
• Celebrate team wins and human connection—not just test scores or enrolments

Final Thought: Culture is the Curriculum—for Staff

Culture teaches staff what is valued. What’s encouraged? What’s tolerated? What’s ignored? As leaders, we need to ask ourselves:

“Would I want to work here if I weren’t in charge?”

If the answer isn’t a strong yes, it’s time to revisit your cultural blueprint.