Teachers' Area

Teachers' Area

Teachers' Area

Help for the most vulnerable

We are involved with a project based in secondary schools focusing on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues. The aim is to meet the needs of a very vulnerable group of young people, those who are themselves gay, those who are perceived to be -often wrongly- and those with gay family members.
Working with the Healthy Schools Audit Tool and applying it to the needs of people affected by LGBT issues.

Here's why -  two recent reports show stark facts.

Stonewall's report in 2007 on  the experiences of young gay people in schools, including those in the Somerset says:

  • 65% had experienced homophobic bullying
  • 97% had heard derogatory language regarding homosexuality
  • 60% felt they had no one at home or school they could talk to
  • 60% did not tell anyone at school when they were bullied
  • 50% said teachers failed to respond to homophobic language when they heard it
  • 52% said they heard homophobic language from teachers and other staff

In Somerset, a survey in 2007 found even more alarming evidence. Of those gay young people surveyed:

  • 71% reported experiencing homophobic bullying
  • Just under half of the group had experienced feelings of depression and isolation
  • All said that reporting incidents to teachers was very hard to do
  • Only 2% had experienced a positive outcome as a result of telling a teacher.  

 

The Department for Children, Schools and Families recently published guidance for schools

Sexual orientation and homophobia. Why, as a  teacher,  you can make a real difference

DCFS says:


Schools are ideally placed to teach pupils about sexual orientation and how to challenge homophobia, as they make a significant contribution to the development of values and attitudes in young children that are likely to be resistant to change in adulthood. Sex and relationship education (SRE) teaches young people to understand human sexuality and to respect the sexual orientation of others.

The Department has produced Sex and Relationship Education Guidance for teachers, which explains how to approach issues such as sexual orientation with honesty and sensitivity and how to deal with pupils' questions and offer support.


Section 28, the common name for Section 2a of the Local Government Act 1986, which banned local authorities in England and Wales from 'promoting' homosexuality in schools, was repealed in 2003 and replaced by new guidance for schools on how to approach issues of sex and sexuality within the SRE framework. This guidance is explained in a downloadable factsheet. Tackling homophobic bullying is part of the Department's drive to tackle all forms of bullying, and is covered in depth in the schools' anti-bullying charter. You can find more information about the role and responsibilities of schools with regard to bullying in general in TeacherNet's bullying section, or read an example of a school anti-bullying policy.

Article from teachernet Check out their site on www.teachernet.gov.uk 


Further resources
Stand up for us is a Wired for Health initiative aiming to help schools tackle homophobic bullying, in the context of developing an inclusive, safer and more successful school environment for all. (This is an older publication, 2004)


Educational Action Challenging Homophobia (EACH) is a national, charitable organisation set up to challenge homophobia through education. It provides a professionally staffed national helpline which offers advice and support.


You may also be interested in reading a case study about tackling homophobia in a secondary school