Equality and diversity

Equality and diversity

The Department for Education (DfE) aims to set an example as an employer and develop policies that make opportunity equal for children and young people.

Overview

Under the Equality Act 2010, we have a legal duty to publish information that shows compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) and our equality objectives, which will be published this spring.

Equalities in policymaking and delivery

Equality and diversity are integral to delivering DfE’s strategic vision. Our policy objective is to break the link between young people’s backgrounds and their chances of success. Every child and young person should have every opportunity to succeed, no matter who they are, where they come from, or how much their parents earn.

We are committed to embedding fairness and equity across the education system, using our equality objectives to provide a visionary framework to ensure the department’s policies are inclusive.

Our policies are designed to ensure that support – guidance, resources, adjustments or interventions – is in place for those who require it, and that delivery is consistent, transparent and fair. We achieve this through a range of methods that support compliance with our legislative duties, providing the department with tools and products needed to build understanding of PSED and inequality across the school system. This approach helps to advance equality of opportunity, reduce disparities and uphold our statutory duties.

Examples of our equality analysis

To support delivery of our wider equality and diversity objectives, we invest in high-quality analysis and research.

Additional equality analysis, including assessments linked to policy development, statutory guidance, calls for evidence and consultation materials, can be found at DfE’s consultation hub.

Equality impact assessments:

Equality analysis:

Research and analysis:

All education statistics and data can be found on the Explore our statistics and data page.

Equality and diversity within DfE

The diversity and inclusion work at DfE is directed by our People Strategy 2024 to 2027. Our aim is to create an inclusive DfE that nurtures talent and reflects the diversity of the country we serve.

One of our obligations under the Equality Act 2010 is gender pay gap reporting. These statistics can be found in the DfE 2025 gender pay gap report.

Workforce breakdown: DfE equality workforce data, December 2020 to December 2025

Whole workforce

Dec 2020 Dec 2021 Dec 2022 Dec 2023 Dec 2024 Dec 2025
Minority ethnic background 19.3% 19.3% 19.5% 20.3% 20.7% 21.1%
Female 58.0% 59.2% 59.8% 60.4% 60.7% 61.1%
Disabled 11.4% 12.6% 13.4% 14.6% 15.6% 17.7%
LGBO 7.1% 7.4% 7.8% 8.3% 8.7% 8.7%
Headcount 7,585 8,215 8,290 8,130 7,985 8,095

Senior civil servants

Dec 2020 Dec 2021 Dec 2022 Dec 2023 Dec 2024 Dec 2025
Minority ethnic background 9.0% 11.3% 11.3% 12.9% 13.5% 13.6%
Female 54.5% 58.3% 58.1% 58.7% 60.1% 60.5%
Disabled 10.1% 9.0% 10.7% 12.4% 11.0% 11.7%
LGBO 6.8% 6.6% 7.1% 7.0% 6.9% 8.8%
Headcount 255 270 265 265 265 260

Source: HR system

Headcount reflects total departmental staff and has been rounded to the nearest 5, in line with the departmental suppression rules. Representation rates are calculated from those who declared the characteristic (excluding ‘prefer not to say’ and ‘not known’).

Wellbeing support within DfE

DfE wants to make sure colleagues enjoy a good work-life balance and have access to guidance and tools to help them take care of their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, as well as that of their colleagues.

We encourage openness so that colleagues feel they can talk about their wellbeing and mental health with an active mental health first aider. Mental health first aiders have undertaken training with Mental Health First Aid England and provide confidential support to individuals. This includes offering encouragement and signposting to sources of professional help and other support.

DfE staff networks

We have a variety of staff networks and groups for all employees to join. These help us create an inclusive and diverse environment so everyone who works at DfE can bring their best to work.

Networks include:

  • 50+
  • Adoption
  • Apprentice
  • Armed forces reservist
  • ​​​​​​​Bereavement
  • Black, Asian, minority ethnic
  • ​​​​​​​Carers
  • Christian
  • Dementia support
  • ​​​​​​​Disability
  • Eating disorder
  • Fertility
  • Hindu
  • ​​​​​​​HM forces veterans
  • International
  • Jewish
  • ​​​​​​​Long COVID
  • Menopause
  • Muslim
  • ​​​​​​​Neurodivergence
  • Parent
  • Pride
  • ​​​​​​​Sex Equality and Equity (SEEN) ​​​​​​​
  • Sikh
  • Social mobility
  • ​​​​​​​Women’s
  • Women in digital, data, technology
  • Women of colour
  • ​​​​​​​Working through cancer
  • Vegan
  • Young people
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