Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to increase diversity in senior leadership teams in schools.

The Department actively monitors diversity data, including leadership data, through published reports such as: ‘School leadership in England 2010 to 2020: characteristics and trends (April 2022)’, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-leadership-in-england-2010-to-2020-characteristics-and-trends. It is also monitored through ‘Working lives of teachers and leaders – wave 1 (April 2023)’, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-lives-of-teachers-and-leaders-wave-1.

Results show improvements over time in representation of some groups in leadership. However, some groups remain underrepresented in the teaching workforce and at leadership level.

The Department’s world class teacher development programmes, such as National Professional Qualifications, are designed to support all teachers through to executive headship and to reach as many people as possible, regardless of their background.

Governors have an important role to play in promoting diversity, equality and inclusion when appointing school leaders and guidance from the Department makes this clear.

School governance boards are expected to have an understanding of, and an adherence to, the Equalities Act 2010, promoting equality and diversity throughout the organisation, including in relation to its own operation. They should understand the full diversity of the cultural context of the school and community they serve as set out in the Governance Handbook and in the current guidance on recruiting a headteacher, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recruiting-a-headteacher.

High quality trusts should ensure inclusive working environments, support flexible working, and take action to promote equality and diversity for the teaching workforce as recommended in the published descriptions of trust quality, which can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1152301/Trust_Quality_Descriptions.pdf.

The Government has also issued new guidance to assist employers with applying positive action in the workplace. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/positive-action-in-the-workplace-guidance-for-employers.