Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of results of a recent YouGov survey which found that only 12 per cent of teachers feel empowered to teach diversity issues; and what steps they are taking to increase this number.

The national curriculum is a framework setting out the content of what the department expects schools to cover in each subject and is just one element in the education of every child. There is time and space in the school day and in each week, term and year to go beyond these specifications. The national curriculum does not set out how curriculum subjects, or topics within the subjects, should be taught. The department believes teachers should be able to use their own knowledge and expertise to determine how they teach their pupils, and to make choices about what they teach.

The department is committed to an inclusive education system which recognises and embraces cultural diversity. As part of the broad and balanced curriculum, pupils should be taught about different societies, and how different groups have contributed to the development of Britain. Diversity issues are covered in several subjects within the curriculum, including but not limited to history, English, citizenship and religious studies. Furthermore, there is a model curriculum being developed for history, which will offer high quality support for knowledge-rich teaching on diversity in this subject.

In autumn 2021, the department launched the National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) to support teachers and leaders who want to develop their knowledge and skills in specialist areas of teaching practice. The Leading Behaviour and Culture NPQ supports teachers to set clear expectations and communicate shared values that improve classroom and school culture. It encourages teachers to create environments where all pupils and colleagues feel welcome, safe, and able to learn from their mistakes, empowering teachers to explore a range of topics, such as diversity, and support others to do the same. More information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-professional-qualifications-npqs-reforms/national-professional-qualifications-npqs-reforms.