Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will commission research on employers’ behaviour with regards to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled teachers.

The Department has produced guidance for schools, entitled “The Equality Act 2010 and schools”, to help them understand how the Equality Act 2010 affects them and how to fulfil their duties. The guidance is available to view here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/315587/Equality_Act_Advice_Final.pdf.

The guidance sets out that, as employers, schools are under a duty to make reasonable adjustments in relation to disability for their employees or potential employees. They must make reasonable adjustments to arrangements or practices to alleviate disadvantage. They must also take reasonable steps to provide any necessary auxiliary aids and services.

The Department continues to look closely at teaching workforce data, such as through the school workforce census, to engage the sector and explore opportunities for further work in this area.