Session B 'Key issues seminars'

Option 1| Out in the classroom: supporting gay staff
People perform better when they can be themselves and openly gay staff can be positive role models for the whole community. But many gay staff – particularly those working in schools – face additional barriers to coming out compared with staff in other workplaces. This seminar will debate some of the challenges facing lesbian, gay and bisexual staff and how these can be addressed. 

Option 2 | Changing role of local authorities: how should local authorities respond to their changing remit for education, health and wellbeing?
From budget reductions to the expansion of free schools and academies and introduction of health and wellbeing boards, local authorities are subject to unprecedented change. Stonewall believes that local authorities have a critical role to play in enabling lesbian, gay and bisexual young people to lead healthy and happy lives – in school and as active members of the community. This seminar will consider how local authorities are responding to these challenges. 

Option 3 | Faith schools: are they really part of the problem?
Research shows that faith schools do not perform as well as schools generally in tackling homophobic bullying, yet some of the best primary and secondary schools at celebrating difference and tackling homophobia are faith schools. So is faith really a barrier to promoting respect and tackling bullying? How can we work with faith communities and persuade all faith schools to follow the leadership of some of our leading faith schools? This seminar will debate these issues. 

Option 4 |  Sex and relationships: informing and safeguarding young people
Sex and relationships education can be a sensitive issue for schools. Some parents continue to exercise their right to opt their children out of this subject altogether. But with almost two thirds of lesbian, gay and bisexual young people using the internet to meet other gay people and some even visiting bars and clubs and using adult websites, young people are placing themselves at risk. This seminar will debate some of the challenges schools have encountered during sex and relationships education and how whether the internet is more helpful or harmful as a resource for young people. 

Option 5 | Leadership from the top: how college and university staff can support their senior management to champion equality
Strong leadership from institutional management is a key ingredient for success, but with so many competing priorities how do you persuade senior management to make equality central to institutional priorities? This seminar will focus on practical steps you can take to make the case effectively. 

Option 6| Sexual orientation and gender: how should we address these issues in the curriculum?
What is the relationship between sex, sexual orientation and gender? How have schools and local authorities successfully developed practice that challenges homophobia, biphobia, sexism and transphobia? How can LGB&T groups and initiatives make sure the ‘T’ isn’t tokenistic? This seminar will address these questions and hear from leading practitioners.