FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about how the audit and certification work.
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What is Neurodivergent Excellence?
Neurodivergent Excellence is an independent UK audit and certification for schools. It assesses how well a school serves neurodivergent students and its own staff against The Neurodivergent Excellence Framework™, and awards certification only when the standard is met.
How does the audit work?
The Neurodivergent Excellence audit has four stages, all online: a 36-question self-assessment, a review of the documents the school uploads, three short interviews with leaders and staff, and a written report with a decision.
How long does the audit take?
The Neurodivergent Excellence report and certification status are usually ready within 7 days once the school has completed the questionnaire, uploaded its documents and held the three interviews (between 90 minutes and 2.5 hours in total).
Does every school receive a report?
Yes. Every school receives a written report, whether it passes or not. A school that passes receives the full report with its certification, certificate and badges. A school that does not yet meet the standard receives a development report that sets out exactly what to address.
What does the Framework assess?
Six domains: Student Provision, Teaching & Learning, Staff Workplace Adjustments, Leadership & Strategy, Mental Health & Wellbeing and Parent Partnership. Each is rated Green, Amber or Red.
What are the criteria for Neurodivergent Excellence certification?
Neurodivergent Excellence certifies a school when no area is rated Red, at least three of the six areas are rated Green and every must-have is met. Certification with Distinction needs all six areas Green. The six must-haves are a documented process for identifying needs without waiting for a diagnosis, an individual support plan for every identified student, a documented process for staff adjustments, a named senior leader for inclusion, a way for staff to raise concerns that is followed up, and a safeguarding policy with a documented response to self-harm and suicide risk. The audit is a specialist review in context, not a tick-box pass or fail.
Does Neurodivergent Excellence cover disability and accessibility as well as neurodiversity?
Yes. Each of the six areas of the Neurodivergent Excellence Framework™ includes an indicator on disability and accessibility, alongside neurodivergent provision. The Framework also looks at students’ own views and at outcomes.
Can a school fail?
Yes. A school that does not meet the standard receives a written development report and no certificate or badge. It can ask for reassessment straight away, with no waiting period and no fee for up to two reassessments within 12 months.
Is there a fee for reassessment?
No. Resubmission and up to two reassessments within 12 months of your report are free. When the points in the report have been addressed, the school should be able to meet the standard on reassessment. Certification is awarded only when the evidence meets it.
What does a certified school receive?
A certified school receives a printable A4 certificate for the academic year, digital badges (SVG and PNG) for its website and emails, and a public verification page. Each certificate carries a unique certificate ID and a QR code.
When does certification start and how long does it last?
Certification starts on the date you pass the audit. It covers the rest of that academic year plus three full academic years, renewed each year by a short check-in. At the end, renewal is a full audit again and covers three set academic years.
How long does certification last?
Neurodivergent Excellence certification is dated by academic year and ends on 31 August. A school is certified for the rest of the academic year in which it passes plus three full academic years, renewed each year by a short check-in. A lapsed badge is designed to look lapsed.
How can anyone verify a certificate?
Anyone can enter the certificate ID on the verify page of the Neurodivergent Excellence website. It shows whether the certification is active or expired and when it was last verified. Expired certifications stay on record and are never deleted.
Is it a government or regulatory inspection?
No. It is an independent consultancy review conducted against The Neurodivergent Excellence Framework™. It is not a statutory, governmental or regulatory inspection and does not replace any inspection or accreditation a school is required to undergo under local law.
Which schools is Neurodivergent Excellence for?
Neurodivergent Excellence is for premium international and English-medium schools. The current focus is the Gulf states, Spain, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Norway, Iceland and English-medium schools in Brazil. Because the whole audit is online, it can work for schools anywhere.
How much does it cost?
Institutional Membership is paid in advance and covers three full academic years of certification, starting when you pass the audit and including the rest of the year you pass in. It costs £7,500 for schools of up to 500 pupils, £10,500 for 501 to 1,000 pupils and £14,000 for 1,001 to 2,000 pupils. Larger schools and groups are quoted individually. Request membership through the membership form.
What happens after we pay?
You receive the Neurodivergent Excellence standard and a manual that explains each criterion, so you know exactly what to meet. You prepare in your own time and ask to begin your audit within six months of payment. We send a reminder at five months, and you can ask for one extension of up to three months.
Does buying consultancy affect the result?
No. Consultancy or improvement support, if purchased, is declared in full and never influences a certification outcome. A school can pay for consultancy and still not pass its assessment.
Who checks Neurodivergent Excellence decisions, and can a school appeal?
A second, independent person called the moderator reviews a sample of Neurodivergent Excellence decisions: every one of the first audits, then a random sample, plus every Distinction and every borderline decision. A school can appeal a decision in writing within 30 days. An equally qualified professional who took no part in the audit or its moderation reviews it and replies within 20 working days.
Does the Neurodivergent Excellence audit cover safeguarding?
Yes. A safeguarding and child protection policy and a documented response for a student or a member of staff who may be at risk of self-harm or suicide are both must-haves for certification. The audit looks at systems, never at named individuals, and is not a crisis, clinical or counselling service. If an assessor learns that a child or an adult may be at risk, they tell the school’s designated safeguarding lead straight away.
Who carries out the audit?
The Founder and Lead Assessor, who holds an MEd in the Psychology of Education from the University of Manchester, is a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society and has over 15 years in education, including more than 12 years specialising in neurodiversity and mental health. They have worked extensively with universities and schools on neurodivergent policy, and directly with neurodivergent students and staff.
Is the Neurodivergent Excellence scoring validated?
Not yet. The questionnaire and scoring are an early version that will be reviewed after the first schools complete the audit, and Neurodivergent Excellence does not call the Inclusion Index validated. The rating in each report is the assessor’s verified rating after reading the evidence and holding the interviews, not the result of a formula alone.
Is the free self-audit the real audit?
No. The free self-audit on the Neurodivergent Excellence website is a 12-question sample that gives an indicative Inclusion Index and a radar chart. The certification audit is the full four-stage process.