One in five students are dyslexic, showcasing incredible strengths in areas like creativity and problem-solving — Dyslexic Thinking skills which will be vital for future workplaces. However, our education system often fails to spot and support dyslexics, while traditional benchmarking measures them against the very things they find challenging. The solution? Rapidly train every educator to identify, support, and empower every Dyslexic Thinker.One in five students are dyslexic, their brain processes information differently. They are often naturally curious and highly creative, with an ability to unconventionally connect the dots and think laterally. This difference in thinking results in some challenges but many extraordinary strengths too – in areas like creativity, problem solving, empathy and communication – which are now the top skills every workplace is looking for, according to research by the World Economic Forum.Despite having these valuable and vital skills, our education system fails to spot and support dyslexics and traditional benchmarking (like standardised tests) disadvantages dyslexics, measuring them against the very things they find challenging (rote learning, timed tests).However, the solution is simple: we must rapidly train every educator to ensure that they are able to identify, support, and empower every Dyslexic Thinker.Research shows that only one in 10 UK teachers have a good understanding of dyslexia and only 3 per cent of schools in the UK screen for it, so it’s no surprise that 80 per cent of dyslexic children leave school unidentified.Of those who are identified, 78 per cent are left to muddle through with support that is average to non-existent, meaning many dyslexics arrive in FE not knowing they are dyslexic or not having their challenges adequately supported. This is a mistake.Harnessing the power of Dyslexic ThinkingDyslexic Thinking is now recognised as a noun in the dictionary as a creative and innovative way to think. LinkedIn also recognise it as a valuable and sought-after workplace skill and have added it to their platform.Some of the world’s greatest inventions, brands and art wouldn’t exist without Dyslexic Thinking. Without it, we wouldn’t have the Mona Lisa, the iPhone, the light bulb or the motor car. Dyslexic Thinking will be vital in shaping the future too. Spotting it in students is easy when you know how. Dyslexics excel in the subjects they love because they tap into their Dyslexic Thinking skills, such as Creativity, Exploring and Questioning (often performing much better than their peers), but they may struggle to grasp other skills their peers find easy (organisation, spelling, punctuation and grammar)Often in dyslexic students there is a mismatch in what a learner seems capable of and the written work they produce, and they may not have test scores and grades that reflect how much they have actually learned or know. This is often misread as laziness or lack of concentration, when it is actually a reflection of their challenges. And with the right support and adjustments, they can and do go far. The exact skills the world needsDyslexic Thinking skills are the ‘soft skills’ every workplace is looking for like creativity, adaptability, leadership, innovation, problem solving and critical thinking. Our Value of Dyslexia report, in partnership with EY, found that these skills are a direct match for those identified by the World Economic Forum as the skills of the future.Right now, the world is experiencing an unprecedented skills gap. Our 2020 report, The Dyslexic Dynamic, pointed out that talent shortages are at a 15 year high. Dyslexic minds are poised to fill this skills gap. As technology takes over the tasks dyslexics find more challenging, the soft skills that are most valued in today’s workplaces are the exact skills that people with dyslexia excel at.Now companies like HSBC, Microsoft and EY are actively looking for dyslexics, recognising that Dyslexic Thinking is a va...