Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to facilitate diversity and anti-racist professional learning for school teachers.

All teachers are expected to treat everyone fairly. The department wants teaching to be an inclusive profession where talented teachers from all backgrounds are supported throughout their career journeys.

All teachers must satisfy the Teachers’ Standards throughout their careers. To be awarded qualified teacher status (QTS), trainees must demonstrate that they meet all of the Teachers’ Standards at the appropriate level, including Teacher Standard One, which requires teachers to have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils and set goals that stretch and challenge young people of all backgrounds and abilities. Part Two of the Teachers’ Standards is also clear that teachers must treat all pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect and show tolerance and respect for the rights of others.

Once teachers achieve QTS, they enter into two years of funded support through the early career framework, which requires early career teachers to be trained and supported to develop their understanding of maintaining fair and inclusive school environments.

Beyond training, school leaders are responsible for ensuring their workforce has appropriate training to meet the needs of all pupils, which is in line with the department’s position on school autonomy and school leaders being best placed to assess the needs of their pupils and workforce.