Page 23 - Fyne Times Spring 2014
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As Stonewall’s The School Report, points
out, 56% of young LGB young people
surveyed deliberately harmed themselves.
Shockingly, 23% of LGB young people
had tried to take their own lives at some
point. ATL believes that every young
person, parent or carer, teacher, member
of support staff and school leader has the
right to attend or work in a school free
from prejudice. Schools and colleges have
an important role to play in combating
ignorance and prejudice by working with
pupils to foster tolerance and openness to,
and awareness of, diversity. After all, we
know that homophobic bullying is lower in
schools and colleges where there is a policy
on homophobic bullying and where they
respond quickly to such incidents.
All education staff can combat these
prejudices and remind others that
assumptions should not be made. They can
make a difference in the staff room as well,
since we know that LGBT pupils and staff
can face indifference at the very least, denial
of personal and professional opportunities,
and/or harassment and violence. As your
trade union, ATL is with you every step
of the way, to support, protect and advise
you. That’s why we are proud to launch our
LGBT Network this year and why we are
campaigning to “Shape Education”.
ATL is the union for education professionals
across the UK. Active in the maintained,
independent and post-16 sectors, we use our
members’ experiences to influence education
policy, and we work with government and
employers to defend pay, conditions and
career development. From early years to HE,
teachers to support staff, lecturers to leaders,
we support and represent our members
throughout their career.
Established in 1884, ATL currently
represents 160,000 members across England,
Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
