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Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI): role of the link governor

Be clear on your role as the link governor for diversity, equity and inclusion, and find out what questions you can ask to challenge and support your school leaders.

Last reviewed on 16 January 2024See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 5300
Contents
  1. What is DEI?
  2. Your role as the link governor
  3. Your role interconnects with all areas of school life
  4. How to monitor inclusion
  5. Questions to ask your school leaders
  6. Progress and attainment
  7. Curriculum
  8. Ofsted and DEI

What is DEI?

DEI stands for diversity, equity and inclusion. We use the term 'equity' rather than 'equality' because:

EquityEquality
Recognises that each individual has different circumstances and gives each person the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcomeMeans each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities 

Part of DEI is getting our language right. Diversity organisation Diverse Educators has a glossary of key terms that's regularly updated to reflect the current language being used.

DEI means making sure that every single person is celebrated

The 9 protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010 are some of the key elements within DEI. However, DEI also extends beyond this to cover anyone else who doesn't fall into these categories.

The protected characteristics are:

This area can feel overwhelming and like there's a