Rating description:
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Fully met: We collect data about whether this group is more at-risk of being bullied / bullying others (or if this type of bullying is an issue in school), and this data shows us they are not more at-risk than their peers (or the type of bullying isn’t a concern within school). We also actively work to prevent and respond to any bullying targeted at these pupils.
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Partially met: We collect data about whether this group is more at-risk of being bullied / bullying others (or if this type of bullying is an issue in school), and this data highlights that this group is more at-risk (or this type of bullying is an issue in school), therefore we are actively working to prevent and respond to this type of bullying.
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Not yet met: We do not collect data about whether this group is more at-risk of being bullied / bullying others (or if this type of bullying is an issue in school).
LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) children and young people can be more at risk from bullying due to being targeted for their actual or perceived sexuality or gender identity.
The Equality Act 2010 introduced a public sector equality duty. All schools must have due regard to the need to:
- eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited under the Act
- advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it
- foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
This duty covers the ‘protected characteristics’ which include sex, sexual orientation and gender reassignment. Under the public sector equality duty, schools must act if they are aware of the use of discriminatory language or language which targets pupils or school staff because of their protected characteristics.
You can find out more via the Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance.
Below you will find links to information, tools and resources to help you tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) bullying in your school or setting. We will also be adding more tools, resources and more case studies and examples from participating schools throughout the programme so do check back.
We will be asking you to submit supporting evidence of your work on this area in the final audit, along with sections 1-6.
Tips:
- ABA worked on a programme called Learn Equality, Live Equal to help schools tackle HBT bullying, delivered in partnership with the Sex Education Forum from April 2019 to March 2020. The legacy of this programme includes free access to:
- a school audit and action planning tool (see attachment below). This can be uploaded to your final audit to evidence the work you have done to tackle HBT bullying.
- Stonewall have resources for schools and colleges, including guidance on supporting LGBT children and young people, information for governors and on LGBT-inclusive RSHE.
- Diversity Role Models are in receipt of funding from the Department for Education and have lots of free resources on their website.
- Take a look at NATCEN's report into what works to reduce HBT bullying.
- It is vital that staff have the skills to talk safely about sexuality and gender identity with students. In 2021 the government introduced a new Sex and Relationships Education curriculum. Have a look at this curriculum and the requirements here.
- Have a look at EACH.Education's website for a range of resources looking at tackling homophobia and biphobia.
- It is important to speak to LGBT children and young people in school and to all children about how they feel about sex stereotypes and HBT bullying to inform your anit-bullying strategy.
- Take a look at NASUWT's guidance about tackling sexuality and gender-identity based bullying.
Resources from ABA:
Below you will also find some case studies and examples from schools that have taken part in our programmes.
Schools who took part in our programmes said:
The children in each class have at least one LGBTQ+ story each half term, to ensure that discussions about diversity are done regularly and not limited to single PSHE sessions.