Challenging Homophobia

Description

Homophobic bullying leads to more gay, lesbian and bisexual pupils playing truant and leaving school earlier than their heterosexual counterparts. Discover a secondary school's successful response in this whole-school video.

Only six per cent of schools have specific policies to tackle the problem. One such school with a successfully anti-bullying policy is the Turton High School Media Arts College in Bolton. The college has introduced the subject of homophobic bullying into its PSHE syllabus for Year 9 pupils, in response to the Every Child Matters agenda. Turton has also produced the Living It campaign in conjunction with Bolton Public Health.

This video follows a Year 9 lesson which involves activities to help children challenge attitudes about sexuality. It also focuses on an INSET session with a representative of the Schools OUT organisation.

Hear also from staff and pupils with first-hand experience of homophobic bullying, illustrating the destructive effect such victimisation is having on KS3/4 pupils and staff in British schools.

Part of the series: School Matters