We are delighted to have joined forces with Stonewall, the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity, and their Education Champions Programme. Sabrina Ferguson, Principal Officer for Equalities, explains more.
We are working with Stonewall and LGBT Youth in tackling homophobia and supporting young people experiences and issues surrounding LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender). Stonewall provide high-quality resources that are extremely popular in our schools, helping to make a positive difference to eliminate homophobia. After 3 years’ of engagement with Stonewall’s Education Equality Index, we have risen from 17th place in the UK to 11th last year.
Wester Hailes Education Centre, Boroughmuir High, Royal High, Davidson’s Mains Primary and Leith Walk Primary have already joined Stonewall’s School Champions programme and there is some great practice emerging from these schools.
Stonewall Scotland’s Education Officer Laura Ferguson gives some examples:
Davidson’s Mains have been doing excellent stuff for a few years. One thing that sticks out in my head about their school is that they encourage other pupils to report incidents they witness and if a pupil sticks their neck out – they get a Giraffe Award! Davidson’s Mains also has the anti-bullying policy up in the main foyer of the school and it explicitly mentions homophobic bullying.
Boroughmuir High School have engaged their pupils in exploring ways of challenging bullying and homophobia and the pupils have raised awareness of LGBT in a presentation at assembly.
Stonewall will be offering further CPD opportunities for both Primary and Secondary Schools on how to tackle homophobia and other LGBT issues. Staff can register to attend the sessions using the CPD Directory and MyHR. The Secondary Schools’ training course “That’s so Gay”: Tackling homophobic language is on 10th May and the Primary Schools’ ‘Celebrating difference’ is on 24th May 2013.
If you would like to know more about how become a School Champion, contact the Children and Families Equalities team, email Laura.Ferguson@stonewallscotland.org.uk or see the School Champions section of Stonewall’s website.
Editor’s notes
Stonewall’s School Report 2012 shows that:
More than half (52%) of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) young people experience homophobic bullying in Scotland’s schools and 53% don’t feel there is an adult at school they can talk to. Half (49%) of LGB pupils in Scotland don’t feel they are achieving their best, and seven in ten (71%) skip school at some point. Worryingly, 26% have tried to take their own life at some point.
Involvement in the Education Champions programme is one of the ways we are working to ensure our children’s and young people’s outcomes are not undermined by inequality - one of our strategic outcomes.
