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.
www.atl.org.uk
1...,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70 72