The Department wants teaching to be an inclusive profession where teachers from all backgrounds are supported throughout their career, from the moment they enter the profession, through their continued development as teachers and as they progress into leadership.

Recruitment campaigns for Initial Teacher Training (ITT) are targeted at students, recent graduates and potential career changers regardless of their identity or background.

Apply for Teacher Training, the new application service for ITT in England, was rolled out nationally in 2021. It has been designed to be user friendly and has been extensively tested with a diverse range of potential applicants to ensure it helps remove barriers to great teachers applying for ITT courses.

The Department’s world class teacher development programmes, such as National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), are designed to support all teachers through to executive headship, and are designed to reach as many people as possible, regardless of their background. Since autumn 2021, eligible teachers and headteachers have been able to access scholarships to undertake fully funded NPQs and 51,518 qualifications have been started so far.

Flexible working supports equality of opportunity in the workforce and can help women to stay in the workforce and progress. The Department is taking action to promote flexible working in schools. This includes publishing resources and guidance on GOV.UK and funding a programme of support, including webinars with a focus on how flexible working can support diversity and inclusion.

Governors have an important role to play in promoting diversity, equality and inclusion when appointing headteachers. Guidance states that school governance boards are expected to have an understanding of, and an adherence to, the Equality Act 2010, promoting equality and diversity throughout the organisation including in relation to its own operation. They should understand the full diversity of the cultural context of the school and community they serve and are reminded of this in the department’s Governance Handbook: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/governance-handbook, and in the current guidance on recruiting a headteacher: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recruiting-a-headteacher.

The Early Headship Coaching Offer (EHCO) provides unassessed face to face support for new head teachers in their first five years of headship who have, or are, undertaking the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).

The EHCO was rebranded in 2022 from the Additional Support Offer. The eligibility criteria increased from those in the first two years of a headship role to the first five years. This was done to not only increase take up of the programme, but to express more clearly the support the programme involved.

As of February 2023, 289 participants have undertaken the EHCO. To improve take up even further, the Department launched a review of the EHCO in January 2023. The first phase involved investigating the eligibility criteria of the offer in order to expand the pool of participants and increase those that can be supported. The Department conducted user research with participants of the EHCO and the NPQH, as well as Lead Providers who deliver both. Interviews with participants have highlighted that they value the practical support and guidance in the programme to undertake this new role and support them throughout. Lead Providers have expressed positive feedback from their participants and are continuing to work to increase the awareness of the programme.. Barriers to take up include low awareness and perceived time commitment, especially by those anticipating completing the NPQH and the EHCO simultaneously.

The second phase will include a wider review of the content of the EHCO to address barriers to take up, including those mentioned above. The phase will focus on the level of coaching and/or mentoring available, the recruitment and management of mentors and coaches, the time commitment of the programme, and on different delivery models and communications.