Chris Benson
Neurodiversity and Education Specialist - Education Lead - ADHD UK
Chris Benson is the first serving headteacher in the UK to publicly disclose living with ADHD on a national level. He has lived neurodivergence as a pupil, a teacher, a headteacher of 15 years — and as the parent of an autistic son and a daughter with ADHD who spent eight months unable to face school (EBSA). He knows what it looks like from every seat at the table. That changes everything about how he works with schools.
Neurodivergence is not a deficit to be corrected. It is a difference to be understood. Educators don’t need to be experts in neurodevelopmental conditions — they need to be experts in the children in front of them.
1 Workshops series two
How can trusts support and manage neurodivergence in the workplace?
According to recent research by Teacher Tapp, 25% of teachers self-identify as neurodivergent, of which a large percentage is comprised of the younger generation. As we seek to create sustainable conditions for staff to thrive, this session explores a partnership approach to supporting neurodivergent staff, where accountability, shared responsibility and flexibility are prioritised, instead of falling back on reactive statutory interventions. Chris will highlight how proactive, values-led HR practices can improve staff wellbeing, retention, and foster an inclusive culture within your trust.