Today (Fri 24 Sept) the Women and Equalities Committee of Westminster MPs has released a new report following their inquiry into ‘The role of the Government Equalities Office (GEO)', which examined how the GEO was delivering on its responsibilities and how effectively its structures and its place in government were enabling it to do so.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “We know that discrimination and inequality continue to exist and that in many cases the events of the last few years have only served to exacerbate this.

“It’s important that we are able to look to the government not only to promote equality and eliminate discrimination but to also to take a principled lead in building an inclusive culture for all.

“The equality remit is a critical one, and, as outlined in the report from the Women and Equalities Committee, it is essential that whoever has this brief has the resources and capacity to undertake it effectively. Lessons must also be learned from the Covid-19 pandemic and the government’s response to the crisis, and this must include an exploration of the unequal impact seen for certain groups.

“Looking ahead, if the government is serious about solving inequality in this country it needs to boost education funding. This means fulfilling its promise to deliver a properly funded recovery package so that every pupil in the country receives the support they need and deserve.

“As always, NAHT stands ready to work with the government to ensure that every child receives the very best education possible.”