Research on ethnic disparities in entry to teacher training and progression to senior leadership
NFER’s previous work on racial equality in the teacher workforce showed that ethnic disparities were most pronounced at senior leadership and headship levels, but largely driven by disparities in the early career stages, particularly initial teacher training (ITT).
Newly available government datasets give us the opportunity to gain new insights about the most important factors influencing ethnic disparities in entry to teacher training and progression to senior leadership. This research, funded by Mission 44, aims to improve collective understanding among policymakers and practitioners of the key barriers to progression within the teacher workforce among people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
The research includes secondary analysis of DfE's Apply for Postgraduate Teacher Training platform data and DfE’s Working Lives of Teachers and Leaders data. The secondary analysis is complemented by focus groups with leaders from ITT providers and schools.