Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to amend the School Workforce Census to capture neurodivergence as a category distinct from disability.

The School Workforce Census (SWC) records whether staff are reported as disabled, but not the nature of their disability. As neurodivergence is not identified separately, and disclosure is voluntary, the department cannot specifically identify or analyse data on neurodivergent staff in schools.

The census is reviewed regularly to ensure balance between managing burden and risks of data collection, especially related to protected characteristics, against the value of developing policy to support the school workforce. The department has no current plans to amend the SWC to collect neurodivergence as a category distinct from disability due to expected low coverage and privacy issues and risks related the data collection.

The department continues to develop its understanding of workforce diversity. Accredited Initial Teacher Training providers must comply with equality legislation and consider making anticipatory adjustments, including providing opportunities for teacher trainee applicants to identify any support they may require. The teacher retention programme, announced in the Schools White Paper, will also include a focus on encouraging inclusive cultures.