SCHOOL/
COLLEGE
of the year
FINALISTS
This award celebrates the school or college which has created, or is working towards creating, the most inclusive learning environment for its LGBTQ+ students and staff.
listed alphabetically
THE CITY OF LEICESTER COLLEGE
The City of Leicester College - the first Rainbow Flag school in the city - have worked hard to improve not only our curriculum to educate students but also opportunities to break down the barriers members of the LGBTQ+ community face in and outside of our school community. Students are encouraged to consider the rights of all through the college’s Character programme in which they explore diversity, equity and inclusion, including sexual orientation and gender identity. Their students are invited to explore this further by attending events during LGBT History and Pride month and run their own Pride club. The college has taken steps to introduce unisex blazers and disseminates flyers to parents on open evenings and parents evenings to celebrate their ethos of belonging. A group of students attended the LGBT+ Youth Summit in Manchester and fundraising activities donate to the LGBTQ+ centre in Leicester.
NORTHGATE HIGH SCHOOL & SIXTH FORM
Northgate were nominated for their hard work creating an environment that is supportive and inclusive for LGBTQ+ students and staff, which is sending ripples of change into community of Ipswich. The school has supported the ‘Pride in Suffolk’s Past’ programme in partnership with Suffolk Archives - research is being used to develop Ipswich Museum’s new displays to ensure that LGBTQ+ people are celebrated, supporting young people to see representation stretching through history. They keenly engage with their students to monitor the deep impact of their work, including student focus groups, diversity groups, supporting students to choose LGBTQ+ books for the library, promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion through social media, and more. Recently, Northgate High School was targeted by anti-trans activists and local MP, known for his hateful views, because of their inclusive approach. Led by the school’s head, there was an overwhelming rush of support and love from the whole community - with letters, social media posts, and more - a testament to the depth of their work.
THE SHEFFIELD COLLEGE
Everyone at The Sheffield College takes a collective responsibility when it comes to promoting and embedding EDI, from staff to students - these joint efforts have been instrumental in helping the College secure 6th place in The National Centre for Diversity's 2023 Top 100 Most Inclusive UK Employers list. Staff support the students’ union to act as the voice of the student body and having formalised feedback measures for them to help steer the focus of the EDI functions of the college towards topics that are important to them including the college’s response to the government consultation on the draft guidance for gender questioning children. The next academic year the college will trial implementing a gender affirmation fund, commissioned through the student union which will allow trans and non-binary students to apply for financial support to purchase gender affirming clothing and make-up.
SOHAM VILLAGE COLLEGE
Nominated by an ex-teacher from Soham Village College, has been shortlisted in part for the hard work and passion of the PSHE team to drive forward a school wide scheme to support LGBTQ+ students and their parents across the school - recently been re-awarded rainbow flag status for their uncompromising support. The school has re-designed the Key Stage 3 PSHE curriculum to cover gender identity and sexuality as well as re-thinking of other elements of department curricula to support the visibility and inclusivity of LGBTQ+ issues. This has included specific projects within Art and English and in tutor time to extend opportunities for students to engage with teachers and develop their understanding and recognition of differences in others. Staff training has been delivered, a specific governor to represent LGBTQ+ and diversity issues has been appointed and a reporting platform introduced to tackle homophobic or inappropriate behaviour so that all students feel safe to thrive within school.
ST JOHN’S UPPER HOLLOWAY CofE PRIMARY SCHOOL
In the last year St John’s has invited Diversity Role Models into their school to deliver their student anti-bullying and staff LGBTQ+ inclusion training. The person who nominated the school commented on how impressed they were by the open-mindedness and curiosity of their Y5-6 students, who passionately pledged to challenge unfairness affecting pupils who might feel different at school. They were also very impressed by their headteacher's commitment to championing intersectional equality from a faith perspective, sharing that they have delivered training to dozens of schools in London and rarely had felt such warm attitude towards LGBTQ+ inclusion.
THE WEY VALLEY ACADEMY
Wey Valley Academy has been on a progressive journey within the LGBTQ+ community. Following a CPD training session delivered by ‘Space Youth Group’ a group of staff allies formed together to support students - the Pride flag is now raised during key events such as Pride History and Pride Month and a proactive Diversity Council group meets every week to discuss an eclectic range of issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community. The group has liaised with the Head and SLT to make sure that the curriculum across the school at both KS3 and KS4 is inclusive and that it engages with a range of diversity issues by embedding themes into lessons - this was highlighted in the Academy’s latest Ofsted report. External speakers have been invited to speak to students and the Academy has also engaged with local partnership groups such as Shire Hall in Dorchester (an institution dedicated and committed to equality, diversity and social justice).
