We are working towards achieving “The Rainbow Flag Award” for our school. This project is a quality assurance framework that demonstrates how well we, as a school, are supporting LGBT+ children, staff and their families in our local community. The Rainbow Flag Award will demonstrate that the school is a place where all children and adults feel safe creating an environment where everyone feels included.
We will have pupils that come into our school who will have LGBT+ family members. Some may realise that they are LGBT+ or will have friends that “come out” as LGBT+ at some point in their lives. It is crucial that we prepare our children for the diverse society we live in. Taking part in this project will give us access to a wealth of age-appropriate resources such as lesson plans and toolkits. This will enable safe conversations to take place in a ‘child-friendly’ and age appropriate manner so that children are aware of and are tolerant and respectful of differences. For example, about different families or what it is to be a boy or a girl.
As a school we have been developing our LGBT work over the last few years through accessing materials from Stonewall and The Proud Trust. We have applied to work towards achieving “The Rainbow Flag Award.” At Escomb, we feel that it is our duty to equip our children with the knowledge and skills they will need for life in modern day Britain, which is why we are working towards achieving all areas of the award. We feel it is important to create a safe environment for any of our pupils, staff or families that may identify as LGBT and also provide positive education around LGBT topics.
The award will focus on six key areas:
We are delighted to have already achieved one of the seven descriptors: Skilled Teacher. For further information you can visit the Rainbow Flag Award website.
Skilled Teacher: Staff, including Senior Leadership Teams and non-teaching staff, can recognise and consistently challenge and report LGBTphobia, and are confidently using positive and appropriate language around LGBT+ identities.
Supportive Govenors and Parents: Governors and parents understand the need to combat LGBTphobia through positive education and representation, and know where to go for information, and if needed, support.
Effective Policies: Effective policies are in place to address LGBTphobia and positively support whole-organisation LGBT+ inclusion.
Inclusive Curriculum: LGBT+ people and identities are positively represented across all areas of the curriculum. This includes lessons and activities that are LGBT+ inclusive, as well as those that are LGBT+ specific.
Pastoral Supports: Children and young people wishing to explore/express their gender and/or sexuality feel supported to do so. Skilled staff from within the organisation support them, including through signposting and referrals to appropriate local youth work services.
Student Voice: Student-led initiatives are valued and supported to create an LGBT+ inclusive and positive environment.
Below are some resources that you might find useful:
Here is a video of how we celebrated Pride Day in our school: