Pride Schools Week 2020 is 13th July to 17th July
Norwich Pride Schools Week 2020 is from Monday 13th to Friday 17th July and we hope that schools will be able to engage pupils in LGBT+ activities in real and virtual classrooms. The beautiful graphic above has been created by School Librarian Lorraine Gill from Dereham Neatherd High School. You can download an interactive PDF of it here: Pride Library Shelf
Nick O’Brien is a Norwich Pride Trustee and Assistant Headteacher at Dereham Neatherd High School. Nick says:
“Lockdown will have been a difficult experience for many LGBT students, perhaps without the contact of friends and locked in tough domestic situations. There is always more to do but we know that schools have increasingly become safe spaces for young LGBT people over recent years. The great work that many Norfolk schools did over refugee week shows that schools can do good equality work remotely in these difficult circumstances. We are excited to see the work that comes out from Pride Schools Week.”
One of the themes we would like schools to explore this year is the meaning of the rainbow flag to the LGBT+ community. During the Covid-19 Crisis Lockdown, rainbows have been everywhere. Children put hand-painted rainbows in their windows to let other children know they were not alone; and rainbows were used as a symbol of thanks to the NHS and other key workers. Norwich Pride’s vision has always been to “turn Norwich into a rainbow’. This is because the rainbow flag, created by Gilbert Baker for the 1978 San Francisco Freedom Parade, is recognised across the globe as a symbol of hope and solidarity for LGBT+ people. Gilbert Baker said:
“I love going to cities around the world and seeing the rainbow flag, knowing that it’s a safe place where I can be myself.”
Nick has created a lesson plan about the Rainbow Flag. Email nick@norwichpride.org.uk to get a copy.
TV’s Dr Ranj has produced a simple guide to rainbows:
Teach with Pride
Young people should feel safe in schools
Young people are more accepting of their LGBT+ friends than ever before. However, we know that school life can still often be very difficult for our young people. We know that teachers want help to tackle bullying effectively. Teachers want to create and to work in an environment where everyone feels safe and proud to be themselves.
The Stonewall School Report (2017), a survey of over a thousand young LGBT+ people, found:
Nearly half of lesbian, gay, bi and trans pupils (45 per cent) – including 64 per cent of trans pupils – are bullied for being LGBT at school
More than half of LGBT pupils say that there isn’t an adult at school they can talk to about being LGBT
One in three trans pupils are not able to be known by their preferred name at school, while three in five are not allowed to use the toilets they feel comfortable in
More than four in five trans young people have self-harmed. For lesbian, gay and bi young people who aren’t trans, three in five have self-harmed
Half of bullied LGBT pupils feel that homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying has had a negative effect on their plans for future education
Join our Teach with Pride Network
We want to send a clear message that LGBT-phobia in schools is unacceptable and needs to be challenged. We want to help produce, share and signpost user friendly teaching resources and strategies, for use in primary and secondary schools. We also work alongside external groups including Educate and Celebrate, the Norfolk LGBT Project and Schools Out aiming to create a teachers network and to link LGBT+ groups across the region.
Through our Teach with Pride network, we provide opportunities for LGBT+ teachers and allies to network and build confidence, and we’d love you to join:
Key dates for your diary
1 – 29th February 2020 – LGBT History Month
February is LGBT History Month, recognising the lives and achievements of the LGBT+ community and to celebrate diversity.
3 February 2020 – Teach With Pride Network social at The Castle
Our social brings together those making schools inclusive and supportive environments for LGBT+ children and young people. It’ll be a chance to have a drink and a chat to share ideas. We’re looking forward to meeting you
17th May 2020 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
The UNESCO lesson plan for IDAHO is a useful resource for marking the day.
13th – 20th July 2020 – Pride Schools Week
Last year, we launched the first ever Pride Schools Week in Norfolk, working with schools to help young LGBT+ people feel valued in a community that celebrates them. Check back for more information on Schools Pride Week 2020.