Our Diversity in Schools project started in autumn 2012, with the aim to challenge primary schools in Bristol to step up to the mark in addressing equality and inclusion, both in the curriculum and in the school. Regrettably the project could not secure sufficient funding to launch fully and closed in 2015. Below are some of the findings from the preliminary research conducted by the Project Leader, Sarah-Louise Minter.
This five-year project addressed the needs of LGBT families*, enabling them to find out how their local schools are progressing and to set up or join a school-based support group.
School that took part in the project were offered:
- Ofsted-ready equality policies and anti-bullying procedures
- A school based support group for LGBT families, staff and governors
- A Bristol-wide network of support groups
- Any entry in a schools database showing progress and achievement, including Ofsted reports
- Materials to help teach and integrate LGBT inclusion in the curriculum and classroom
- Local best practice to share
* What is an LGBT family?
An LGBT family can be:
- where one or both parents are LGB or T;
- where the child or its sibling/s is/are LGB or T are perceived to be, or are questioning their sexual orientation and/or gender identity;
- where the child is looked after by other family members or guardians (private fostering) who are LGB or T;
- where the child is adopted or fostered by an LGB or T family;
- where any other family member is LGB or T;
- where the child may have any number of people that they regard as their parents, and any number of them is LGB or T, irrespective of the relationship between the adults;
- where the child may reside in more than one home, in which any of the above applies;
- any combination of the above.