Students and staff at BSW have been celebrating School Diversity Week. An annual celebration of LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) equality in education, celebrated by thousands of primary schools, secondary schools and colleges across the UK.
Celebrating Diversity Week empowering all members of our community to take ownership of celebrating LGBT+. The school has been taking part in a multitude of activities at all levels, from staff adapting their curriculums to ensure inclusivity and representation for LGBT+, alongside Student Ambassadors creating ‘Safe Spaces’ which are a platform for students to talk about diversity and equalities. The school building has been transformed by the hanging of PRIDE Rainbow Flags, created by members of our community. They are now hanging proudly in the Atrium, the central hub and heart of the school.
Mr Whitehead said ‘our school ethos is having the highest expectations and empowering students to make positive contributions to society. We are educating students to be confident and successful individuals; those who can think for themselves in challenging injustice, striving to live peaceably with others, whilst having a strong sense of their own place in the world.’
All of the events and celebrations in school are part of a pivotal movement in helping others become more tolerant in support of mutual respect and acceptance, whilst eliminating prejudice and discrimination that can exist within society. To capture this week’s celebrations, we spoke to staff members involved and an LGBT+ Ambassador, about their week.
Interview: Ben, Year 10 Student Councillor, interviewed Tom Pearson, Achievement Coordinator – Turing House
Why is celebrating LGBT+ / Equality important in schools?
I want students in our school to feel like they can be themselves- whatever that means for them- without fear of reprisal. The more we promote equality and are devoted to making our spaces equal the greater that sense of community becomes, for all students.
How Bohunt Worthing is celebrating Diversity Week and LGBT+
Some of our talented members of staff have made Pride flags for inside the school building. We will have a flag outside as well.
On Thursday of our ERA week, two of our year groups will engage in a whole day of LGBT+ diversity activities, around School’s Diversity Week. In addition to this we have a small but growing Pride Group, that we are hoping to further expand next year.
What are some strategies schools can follow to promote positive and healthy outcomes for students who are LBGT+?
Listen to your LGBT+ community through Pride groups- how do they wish to be represented?
Ensuring that you practice what you preach, and your policies back up the support you give young people.
Making sure there is commitment at all levels- from support staff to Head, governing body and Trust.
What role does the community play in supporting?
Our governors support us in our schemes and by backing our policies and procedures.
We work closely with Allsorts, a local LGBT+ charity to support specific young people and help with content delivery. We also signed up for resources from Just Like Us, a Pride Group. We are hoping to grow and build our links with other community members.
Why is LGBT+ Education Important? What LGBTQ+ Education currently exists?
We need to push our LGBT+ agenda forward by looking closely at all schemes/curricula to ensure they are representative. We have many LGBTQ+ heroes that are celebrated in various lessons (e.g. Alan Turing in History/Computing/Science). It is also important that LGBTQ+ students are represented through PSHE, so they can build equally healthy relationships.
What is the takeaway message for teachers/students/parents / community?
Everybody deserves to feel like their school represents them as a person, and that’s what we strive to do.
Name: Jane Todorovic
Role in School: Teacher of Maths, and LGBTQ+ Pride Group Leader
Why is celebrating LGBT+ and equality important in schools?
Schools are for all students. We know that members of the LGBT+ community may feel that this is not always the case.
How Bohunt Worthing is celebrating Diversity and LGBT+
The more any school can do to promote messages of inclusivity and respect for diversity the better. I am really pleased with what Bohunt Worthing has achieved in its Pride celebrations – the flags, in particular, look AMAZING.
What are some strategies schools can follow to promote positive and healthy outcomes for students who is LBGT+?
But the day to day matters. All teachers and staff can be ambassadors for the LGBT+ community with our everyday actions in classrooms, around the school and during social time. This includes dealing, and known to be dealing, with any negative attitudes, language or behaviour as well as staff promoting positivity around LGBT+ lives.
What is the takeaway message for teachers/students/parents/community?
If you want more information and advice then national organisations such as Stonewall and Just Like Us are great. Also look out for local LGBT+ organisations and charities that work with young people in your school’s area.
Interview: Briony Palmer, Assistant Headteacher interviewed one of the LGBT+ Ambassadors
Why is celebrating LGBT+ and equality important in schools?
There is a lot of stigma surrounding LGBT+ topics and with that stigma people can identify often become resentful or hateful because it’s different. There are so many issues accepting differences when in society everything has become so ‘normalised’. It is about educating people and promoting the LGBT+ community to help people feel more comfortable talking about it and expressing themselves.
How Bohunt Worthing is celebrating Diversity / LGBTQ+
Opportunities such as the LGBT+ Ambassador Programme has created a platform to hear any student who does not feel comfortable expressing themselves. There are LGBT+ Safe Spaces which is a place they can come to speak freely, it is currently being promoted around school in support of our community. In lessons, there will be more of a focus on labels. Ignorance can be harmful and by educating more people it can become more normalised and accepted.
What are some strategies schools can follow to promote positive and healthy outcomes for students who is LBGT+?
Mostly, educating people on labels and doing more and more focus and attention on those that don’t get it right and helping them understand.
Small steps like using preferred names on school reports, and allowing preferred names on school email accounts can help support those who feel accepted and more comfortable. Small steps of progression can make a big difference.
What is the takeaway message for teachers/students/parents/community?
It is not up to others to dictate how people live or who they love. Love is love – and education is the only way to help tackle the lack of understanding.
BSW Staff united to make our very own Pride banners:
LGBT+ Ambassadors created this banner:
Another banner hangs proudly on the outside of the sports hall:
