GEC Inclusion Index - Staff - Key Behavioural Area 5
Professional Development
“All staff are trained so they can be confident in decision making when it comes to diversity and inclusion topics.”
47.9% agree
⬆ Improving Trend
So what?
Training shouldn’t be a tick-box — it should be the tool that drives confidence, empathy, and inclusive action. Yet in our 26,000 Voices dataset, less than half of staff (47.9%) said they felt equipped to make confident decisions around diversity and inclusion.
The lack of ongoing, meaningful CPD is one of the most persistent gaps surfaced by our research. Staff were clear: much of what they’ve had has been outdated, infrequent, or superficial.
“We had a single session on unconscious bias five years ago. That’s it.”
“There’s lots of talk, but no one has taught us how to actually do inclusion.”
This issue was especially acute among inclusion leads, SENCOs, curriculum leads, and others tasked with leading D&I — many of whom said they’d received no formal training in intersectional practice or inclusive leadership.
“I’m the D&I lead but haven’t had CPD on it since my PGCE.”
The impact? A workforce lacking clarity, confidence, and consistency. Many staff reported not knowing how to respond when faced with incidents of discrimination, curriculum bias, or student disclosures:
“I didn’t say anything when a colleague misgendered a student. I didn’t know what to do.”
Intersectional data shows that:
Early career staff,
Global Majority colleagues, and
Staff in rural or monocultural areas
were least likely to report receiving adequate D&I training.
The GEC Platform: Proven Solution
The GEC Platform doesn’t just collect data — it builds capability. Through its CPD-aligned insights and tailored action plans, it helps schools develop confident, inclusive practitioners at every level.
📊 Key Findings from 26,000 Voices:
Only 47.9% of staff felt trained to make confident D&I decisions
Staff leading on D&I often lacked relevant CPD
Schools with embedded training saw significant rises in staff confidence and inclusion scores
💬 In Their Words:
“Thank you to the team behind the GEC Platform. It has genuinely been like accidentally discovering a gold mine.” — St Olave’s Grammar School
🎯 Why It Works:
The GEC Platform provides:
Data-driven insights to shape tailored training
Free access to CPD events, tools, and templates
Co-produced content with lived experience voices
A clear roadmap for building staff D&I confidence across roles and departments
Inclusion isn’t an instinct — it’s a skill. And like any skill, it must be taught, practiced, and revisited.
The Bright Spots
Some schools are getting it right. Where professional development is embedded, co-produced, and values-aligned, staff report not only higher confidence — but also stronger cultural fluency and better practice.
“Our D&I CPD was co-delivered by students and staff. It actually felt real — and useful.”
Next Steps & Free Stuff
🧠 Training is one of the most requested — and most lacking — areas in schools today.
That’s why the GEC offers free events, CPD sessions, and opportunities for all educators to join the conversation.
📅 Sign up for upcoming sessions here:
🔗 GEC Free Events & CPD
🎓 And if you're building your own staff CPD programme, don’t forget to explore our Cultural Resources Library — packed with inclusive titles and authors that reflect underserved staff groups, including neurodivergent, faith-practising, and Global Majority voices:
🔗 Visit the Cultural Resources Library
📊 Use the GEC Score Card to assess where your team stands on D&I confidence — and build from there.
