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Key findings from a recent survey, Just Like Us, Growing up LGBT+
- 48% of pupils have had little to zero positive messaging about being LGBT+ at school in the last 12 months.
- Only 58% of LGBT+ pupils have felt safe at school on a daily basis in the past 12 months, compared to 73% of non-LGBT+ pupils.
- LGBT+ young people are twice as likely to have been bullied in the past year (43% compared to 21% of their non-LGBT+ peers).
- LGBT+ young people are three times more likely to self-harm and twice as likely to have depression, anxiety and panic attacks, as well as to be lonely and worry about their mental health on a daily basis.
Research consistently shows that pupils who are part of the LGBTQ+ community have a more difficult time in school than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. Ensuring that your school is an inclusive, safe and supportive environment is critical to improving pupil wellbeing and outcomes.
During this one-day conference you will explore topics to support you to embed a whole school approach to LGBTQ+ inclusion. You will consider important topics such as inclusion and diversity the curriculum, responding to bullying and harassment, supporting transgender and gender-questioning students and pupil mental health.
With a new consultation on gender identity in schools set to be released early this year, the conversation around inclusion is bound to receive a lot of attention. You will come away from the day feeling empowered to identify and address the challenges in your school and embed real change to make a difference to the lives of your pupils and staff from the LGBTQ+ community.
Who should attend?
Inclusion Leads, Designated Safeguarding Leads, Deputy DSLs, Pastoral Leads, Headteachers, Assistant Heads, Deputy Heads, PSHE Leads and other senior members of staff with pastoral and safeguarding responsibilities.
Our survey found that our education system is not preparing LGBT young people for later life, and that homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying is a problem we still need to tackle.
This conference will enable you to:
- Understand the challenges for LGBTQ+ students and teachers within the school environment
- Ensure you are up-to-date with the legal framework surrounding equality and diversity
- Audit your school’s policy and practice to identify gaps and areas for improvement
- Understand what an inclusive and diverse curriculum is
- Increase the representation of LGBTQ+ figures within your curriculum
- Better support the mental health of students from the LGBTQ+ community
- Signpost students to specialist mental health support
- Identify and tackle the use of inappropriate language
- Get an update on the government guidance and advice around gender identity
- Create a more inclusive and open working environment for your staff