Leading organisations in the education sector have made a series of new and updated commitments aimed at helping to boost equality, diversity and inclusion.
Thirteen key education bodies and national associations have signed an updated ‘statement of action’ setting out measures they will take – and highlighting progress made over the past year.
Despite some small but important improvements in recent years, the organisations say there is still much to do to ensure a more representative, diverse workforce.
Latest figures show that while 77% of teachers were women in 2023/24, just 69% of school leaders were female – compared with respective figures of 76% and 66% in 2010/11. The data also reveals 15.9% of white teachers held a school leadership position, compared with only 10% of black and black British teachers and 8.3% of Asian and Asian British teachers – although the respective figures have increased from 13.9%, 8.1% and 6.5% in 2010/11.
In their statement, the organisations say they want to ‘demonstrate their commitment to playing their part in acknowledging the issues and furthering equality, diversity and inclusion in schools and trusts by taking action’.
Setting out the new statement, the organisations say: “It is an uncomfortable truth that equality, diversity and discrimination remain issues for the education sector.
“This harms not only our members and their health and wellbeing, but also their staff and the young people and communities they serve.
“It is important for young people to have positive role models from a wide range of backgrounds and ethnicities. This helps to break down stereotypes and prejudice and encourages children to broaden their horizons and fulfil their potential.
“That is why we are absolutely determined to confront this head-on. By being clear and transparent about our actions, we can give confidence to pupils, families, staff, governors and leaders that we are listening, learning, and acting on their concerns and their ambitions for equality, diversity and inclusion.
“Through education we can start to build a truly inclusive society, challenge prejudice, and dismantle structural barriers.”
However, the organisations say there is also more the government could do, adding:
“This important sector-wide commitment needs to be backed up by additional support and funding from the Department of Education – including to boost recruitment and retention of educational professionals from a more diverse range of backgrounds.”
The organisations that are signatories to this statement are:
• All-in Education
• Ambition Institute
• Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)
• Chartered College of Teaching
• Confederation of School Trusts (CST)
• Diverse Educators
• Diversity Role Models
• Independent Schools Council (ISC)
• Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL)
• The Maternity Teacher Paternity Teacher Project
• NAHT, the School Leaders’ Union
• National Governance Association (NGA)
• WomenEd