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National LGBTQ award launched by Leeds Beckett University
The Centre for LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Education Award has been set up the University’s Carnegie School for Education.
The quality mark aims to give schools a framework for LGBTQ inclusion, whatever their starting point.
The University’s Centre for LBGTQ+ Inclusion in Education was established in November 2017 as a Centre for research and practice
Academic lead Professor Jonathan Glazzard said: “The Centre for LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Education was developed to support schools and colleges in responding to the needs of students who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Trans, Queer / Questioning and those who identify using other categories.
“The Quality Mark is based on a research-informed framework which enables school and college leaders to audit existing provision and identify priorities for enhancement.
“This is then followed by the implementation of actions to address those priorities to improve provision and outcomes for students who identify as LGBTQ+.
“We are proud to have launched this initiative and we are looking forward to supporting schools as they work towards the award.”
The Centre for LBGTQ+ Inclusion in Education is committed to challenging all forms of prejudice, discrimination and marginalisation towards individuals and collectives in schools and colleges who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/ Questioning and others who have gender identities or sexual orientations that differ from the heterosexual and cisgender majority.
Through research, it provides evidence-based recommendations to support the development of LGBTQ inclusion in education.
The new award has been backed by Claire Birkenshaw, Senior Advisor for LGBTEd and the first headteacher in the UK to transition gender while in post.
Claire said: “I am absolutely certain that LGBTQ+ young people currently being educated in our schools will be heartened to see an Inclusion in Education Award that recognises and affirms who they are.
“No doubt, schools will be pleased too because it will ease some of the uncertainty of how best to support LGBTQ+ young people in learning environments.
“It will also aid fulfilment of their Public Sector Equality Duty of the 2010 Equality Act too. Given the comments made by Prime Minister Theresa May at the Pink News Awards in October 2017 in which she stated the Government's determination to 'eradicate homophobic and transphobic bullying, I am confident she and Nick Gibb, Minister of State for Schools, will be delighted with this news.
“This award, I feel, is another positive step forward in ensuring that Britain truly is an inclusive place to live, work and learn in which all people feel accepted and that they belong.'
Schools taking part in the award must demonstrate a deep commitment to working towards excellent practice by LGBTQ+ Inclusion a part of their core business.
The schools will translate their school’s mission, vision and values into policies, processes and practice which bear out a commitment to having a rich whole-school culture where all members of the school community thrive.
For more information, please contact LGBTQnetwork@leedsbeckett.ac.uk or Louise Clarke on 0113 812 7540.