Is AI the answer to the education talent crisis?

Everyone in education is talking about AI—or at least, that’s how it feels scrolling through my LinkedIn feed.

Discussions about leveraging Artificial Intelligence in education are everywhere.

Could AI revolutionise marking and feedback?

Plan lessons?

Report writing?

There’s potential our most time-consuming tasks are automated, meaning more time for students, and less pressure on your team.

But can AI tackle one of our biggest headaches: recruitment?

Let’s be honest.

Hiring in education is slow, stressful, and often doesn’t secure the best people for the job.

Could AI change this?

Could it give us more time in our day while helping us find better candidates?

Here’s what AI could do for us:

• Reduce admin overload.

• Eliminate human error in compliance.

• Attract stronger candidates.

• Screen applicants efficiently.

• Help make better recruitment decisions.

My AI Reality Check

I use AI daily. Juggling a business and keeping a small person alive means I’ll take anything that makes life easier.

The first time I used ChatGPT, I was blown away.

In seconds, it churned out a perfectly structured LinkedIn post with flawless spelling and grammar.

I thought, “Look at me, saving five hours a week!”

But then I read the post.

It was dull. Dry. Weirdly formal. And definitely not me.

Even with further instructions, I couldn’t make AI sound human.

It doesn’t have a sense of humour, can’t make nuanced judgements, and sometimes goes completely off track.

Occasionally, it feels...well, a bit daft. Maybe even robots have off days?

Artificial vs Authentic

Recruitment is a human-to-human interaction, and education is one of the most people-centred sectors there is.

When we’re hiring, we’re looking for personality, communication skills, and cultural fit—qualities no algorithm can assess.

AI might handle data brilliantly, but it struggles with the subtler side of recruitment.

In a candidate-short market, we need to engage applicants on their terms.

That means understanding them, starting meaningful conversations, and nurturing relationships.

AI can communicate, but it can’t authentically engage.

Use it to write your job ads, and you might find your engagement rates dropping.

Following the AI Hype

A Head of Recruitment at a MAT recently told me she’d love AI software to screen applications.

On the surface, that sounded fantastic for any employer wading through a pile of applications,

But when I asked if she was swamped with applications, she admitted no.

Like most trusts, their challenge is not too many candidates but not enough quality ones.

How Can AI Help?

AI is your friend when it comes to the repetitive, brain-draining tasks—the ones that make you reach for a strong cup of coffee.

Think trackers, frameworks, formatting documents, and double-checking data.

Essentially, treat AI like the Year 10 work experience kid:

• Give it very clear, detailed instructions.

• Only assign low-stakes tasks.

• Double-check everything.

• Its not ready to be the face of the organisation just yet.

My Take

AI is a powerful tool that can make recruitment easier. But it’s not the magic solution to education’s talent crisis.

To solve that, we need creativity, engagement, and a candidate-focused approach.

And for now, the robots just aren’t up to the job.

But whatever you do, don’t tell them I said that.