More than 1000 schools are taking part in the government funded programme
Over 1,000 schools around the country are launching projects to stamp out homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) bullying in the classroom, the Minister for School Standards and Equalities Nick Gibb confirmed earlier this week.
The £3million initiative is being led by the Government Equalities Office and aims to ensure children are free from being bullied because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. As part of the initiative, all schools in the country must ensure effective measures are in place.
The programme will see primary and secondary schools across the country partnered up with the national organisations including Stonewall and Barnardos who will help to educate young people by teaching them to respect each other’s individuality.
The initiative is part of the UK government’s drive to deliver further progress on LGBT equality. In a press release issued earlier this week, Minister for School Standards and Equalities Nick Gibb said: “Bullying at school is cruel, particularly at a time when LGBT pupils are coming to terms with their sexuality or gender. I am determined that we stamp out the use of the word ‘gay’ as a pejorative term and prevent bullying of all kinds so pupils feel safe and able to achieve their full potential.
“I’m delighted that so many schools across the country will be participating in this programme. By creating a culture of acceptance and respect in our classrooms we can support young people as they discover who they are.”
Gibb continued: “Levels of HBT bullying and language reported in Stonewall’s 2017 School Report have decreased by almost a third since 2012. However, further action is needed to teach students about the impact of bullying and to support teachers to spot HBT bullying in schools.”
The programme builds on the success of a pilot which ran in 2015/16 and included a range of different projects including group support for pupils who had been bullied or had bullied someone else which was provided by Barnados.
Speaking of the new, national initiative, Barnardos Chief Executive Javed Khan said: “We are excited to be a part of this programme and proud to be able to contribute to help make schools safer and more representative of LGBTQ+ young people.”
Dominic Arnall, Head of Projects and Programmes at Stonewall also issued a statement welcoming the news. “We work with over 1,000 schools across Britain, empowering teaching staff to celebrate difference and acceptance in their classrooms. We also train teachers to go on and train other groups of teaching professionals, not just on how to tackle anti-lesbian, gay, bi and trans bullying, but how to prevent it in the first place.
“When bullying is not tackled, it can have a deeply damaging and long-lasting effect on young people. Our School Report (2017) shows that although anti-LGBT bullying has decreased, half of LGBT pupils say they hear HBT slurs ‘frequently’ or ‘often’ at school. This is unacceptable.
“We welcome the Department of Education’s continued dedication to tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) bullying in schools as we work towards a society in which all LGBT people can be accepted without exception.”
Earlier this year, the Department for Education made relationships and sex education mandatory in all secondary schools and age-appropriate relationships education will be taught in all primary schools. The department is also updating its guidance so it reflects the challenges pupils face today, including LGBT issues.
Both are part of the government’s wider work to deliver greater equality for the UK’s LGBT communities. In July, the government announced the launch of a national LGBT survey to drive further progress, along with proposals to streamline and de-medicalise the process for changing legal gender as put forward by Minister for Women and Equalities Justine Greening.
Over 95,000 people have already taken part in the survey. Have your say by filling out the survey here before 15 October.
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