LGBT | Schools Week

Ark Schools risks losing academy over homophobia, harassment and SEND suspensions

The leading trust’s school faced criticism over a ‘culture of sanctions’, unmonitored missing pupils and unrecorded bullying and prejudice

Ofsted: ‘Confused’ schools want clearer guidance on LGBT teaching

Schools want clearer guidance to help them teach about “sensitive and difficult subjects” like sexual orientation and gender reassignment, amid “confusion” about their obligations, Ofsted has warned. The schools watchdog today released research commentary on teaching about sex, sexual orientation and gender reassignment. Ofsted said there was “a significant lack of research” into how schools […]

Parkfield School and No Outsiders: We must learn from Trojan Horse history in Birmingham

No Outsiders and in particular the teaching of LGBT issues must continue, if we want to protect the values that are enshrined in British law, says Colin Diamond Word spread quickly on social media last week that Parkfield Community School in Birmingham had suspended the teaching of No Outsiders lessons “until a resolution has been […]

Edexcel allows exam candidates to opt out of gender classifications

Pupils taking exams this summer have been offered the chance to opt out of gender classifications for the first time. Pearson, the education company that owns the exam board Edexcel, made the step forward, by presenting candidates with the option of removing the male or female classification for their qualifications. The idea of a gender-neutral […]

First LGTBed conference goes off with a bang

A network established to offer support, information and ideas to LGBT+ teachers has held its inaugural conference. The first LGBTed was held in London last weekend, and even received the backing of schools minister Nick Gibb. Co-founders Daniel Gray, a teacher at Harris Academy South Norwood where the event was held, and Hannah Jepson, director for […]

Rural LGBT teachers have worse mental health

Lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans teachers working in rural areas are nine times more likely to experience mental health issues related to their job than their peers in cities, research has shown. Forty-six per cent of LGBT+ teachers working in villages reported taking time off work due to anxiety or depression linked to their sexual […]

How to transform your school into an LGBT+ friendly place, by Dr Elly Barnes and Dr Anna Carlile

I still remember the stunned, pin-drop silence when I stood in front of 300 students and said “this assembly would have been illegal to give just a few years ago due to a law called Section 28”. I have to admit that the legacy of this hideous legislation still sits heavily with me and has […]

Teach First’s LGBT intake almost doubles

The percentage of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people signing up to train with the education charity Teach First has almost doubled in the last three years. The proportion of new teachers training with the charity who identify as LGBT has increased from five per cent of those who started in classrooms in 2014 to nine per […]

How to make your school more LGBT-inclusive

Lesbian, gay, bi and trans people at school continue to face bullying, discrimination and isolation, argues Stonewall’s Sidonie Bertrand-Sheldon Homophobic language is a huge issue. A shocking 96 per cent of gay pupils hear homophobic remarks such as ‘poof’ or ‘lezza’, and 99 per cent hear the words “that’s so gay” used to describe something […]