For four days, we come off timetable and use age-appropriate picture books as the basis for activities around the theme of 'Different Families' including same-sex relationships. Each class has an end target: in addition to work produced along the way, each class has to come up with its own display containing the message 'All different. All similar. All equal'. In the past we've produced similar work with the title 'Wouldn't it be boring if we were all the same?' The fifth day of the week is a celebration of our work and a sharing of our learning through whole school and key stage assemblies.
In our Diversity Week, we tie together themes, special days and other events such as Anti-Bullying Week, Black History Month, Multilingual Month, World Book Day etc. by exploring work relating to these events that has a more specific LGB focus. In assemblies and in singing time throughout February, we listen to music by LGB composers/musicians and sing songs such as Christina Aguilera's 'Beautiful' and Katy Perry's 'Firework' exploring the reasons why these and similar songs are so popular with the LGB community.
It really is a whole school immersion and celebration; a week that has positive repercussions throughout the school community and throughout the school year.
We will be showing Stonewall's feature-film FIT to students at break and lunchtimes, running workshops for Year 9 students, and asking students to sign up to an anti-homophobic bullying charter. We'll also be carrying out a student survey to find out the attitudes towards gay people and experiences of homophobic bullying.
As well as this, there will be rainbow flags and bunting displayed in the school, a Year 12 on-screen opinion poll and an information stand in the library.
Similar to our work last year, we will be developing and delivering some lessons around the LGBT theme during this month.
We will be developing lesson resources for your subject areas that all staff can access during the month. We will also develop a range of display work around the school and a Thought of the Week which will focus on the theme. We also have a scheduled P4C enquiry in late January which will be based on LGBT themes.
In Humanities Year 7 will take part in workshops using Stonewall's 'FIT' DVD. Students have also designed these fantastic t-shirts, which they will be wearing throughout LGBT History Month.
We are tasking each of the heads of faculty to give a presentation to staff and students on a historic LGBT individual from their subject area who has made a big impact in society, for example Alan Turing whose code cracking was hugely important to the Allies' victory in World War II (IT) and Oscar Wilde (drama).
To let us know about the activities your school or college are planning email us at education@stonewall.org.uk or telephone 020 7593 1850.
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