Stonewall launches Education Champions Programme
Nick Clegg MP denounces homophobic bullying in schools
Stonewall today launches a new Education Champions Programme, providing support to local authorities in tackling homophobic bullying in their schools. The first members of the programme were announced at Stonewall's annual Education for All conference, where Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg spoke out against homophobia in schools. He was joined by Sir Ian McKellen and Julia Neal, President of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, who also gave keynote speeches praising Stonewall's Education for All programme.
The Education Champions Programme allows local authorities to work with Stonewall and each other to promote a safe and inclusive learning environment for all young people and establish practical ways of addressing homophobia in schools. The first five members are Birmingham City Council, Wigan Metropolitan Borough and the London Boroughs of Waltham Forest, Brent and Southwark.
Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief Executive said: 'In the twentieth anniversary year of Section 28, under which homophobic bullying festered for so long, we can think of no better time to launch a programme which truly returns power to them. Local authorities have a critical role to play in ensuring that all schools in their area are well equipped with the latest resources to help them tackle homophobic bullying.'
Nick Clegg MP said: 'It is a moral responsibility of every teacher in every school to take a zero tolerance approach to homophobic bullying. This type of bullying should be treated with the same degree of outrage as racist bullying.'
'I've written to every Liberal Democrat council leader asking them to become members of Stonewall's Education Champions Programme. Having supportive, trained teachers to turn to shouldn't be the luck of the draw - they should be available to all pupils.'
Birmingham, the largest local authority in Britain, was the first Stonewall Education Champion to sign up. The Education Champions Programme has been developed following the success of Stonewall's Diversity Champions Programme - Britain's good practice forum on sexual orientation in the workplace. The programme, launched in 2001, will soon announce its 400th member.
Education Champion member benefits include exclusive good practice events, a named Stonewall point of contact for guidance and advice and Stonewall representation at meetings and events.
Last year, Stonewall's School Report revealed homophobic bullying to be almost endemic in Britain's schools. Sixty five per cent of lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced direct bullying. Thirty per cent reported that adults are responsible for homophobic incidents in their schools. Following the report's publication, the government commissioned Stonewall to write practical online guidance on how to respond to homophobic bullying, which was launched by Ed Balls, Secretary of State for the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
Contact: Gary Nunn, Communications Officer, 020 7593 1856 / 07985 439 660
Notes
1. Stonewall is the gay equality charity founded in 1989. www.stonewall.org.uk.
2. To join Stonewall's Education Champions Programme, please contact lucy.warwick@stonewall.org.uk / 020 7593 1881.
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