Today sees Stonewall publishes its Education Equality Index 2016, listing the Top 10 local authorities in Britain, with Cambridgeshire County Council coming in fourth position.
The Index measures practice and policy at all of the participating local authorities. Fifty local authorities submitted entries to the 2016 Index, the most competitive to date.
Cambridgeshire County Council provides schools with an impressive array of practical support. Its PSHE Service has updated its anti-bullying toolkit and offers schools specific guidance on supporting diversity and difference in SRE.
Its Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) has developed innovative guidance to support teachers in navigating discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity within Religious Education (RE). This has since been shared with a number of Stonewall Education Champions local authorities. Cambridgeshire’s Early Years’ Service continues to train early years practitioners as Equalities-Named Coordinators (ENCos). The service also held an Equalities Conference for early years practitioners, at which Stonewall provided the keynote speaker and ran workshops on celebrating difference and tackling gender stereotypes.
The council also works closely with SexYOUality, the local charity supporting LGBT young people. The charity has delivered training to local authority and school staff, and runs workshops and assemblies for students on LGBT issues and held open sessions on LGBT mental health. It has trained secondary school peer mentors to tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic language. SexYOUality has been given local authority funding to deliver targeted 1:1 mental health support to LGBT young people across the county. In order to ensure that LGBT young people who may be isolated and living in rural communities can access this support, it is also offered through Skype, email or over the phone.
SexYOUality’s ongoing contract with the local authority has been enhanced to offer a suite of support for trans children and young people and their families, comprising a drop-in group for trans young people and a peer support group for the parents of trans young people. The LGBT young people involved have delivered workshops in 20 schools and youth settings about the project, and Cambridge Central Library hosted a viewing and workshop during LGBT History Month 2016.
Councillor Joan Whitehead, Chairwoman of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee said: ‘I am delighted that we are fourth in Stonewall’s Education Equality Index for 2017. Cambridgeshire County Council regards the prevention and tackling of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying to be an essential component of our work with children and young people. We have worked in close partnership with local LGBT charity SexYOUality to this end over a number of years and together we are committed to making every school in the county a safe place for all pupils to learn – irrespective of their gender identity or sexuality. I passionately believe that with education, dedication and determination, we can create a safe and inclusive learning environment for all young people.’
Sarah Rose, Senior Account Manager, Stonewall: ‘We have seen phenomenal work from all of those local authorities that have participated in this year’s Education Equality Index – in particular our Top 10 and our award winners. Cambridgeshire County Council has shone with their incredible initiatives and work with and for young people, and are role modelling behaviour in their commitment to fighting against bullying and discrimination.’
Stonewall’s Teachers’ Report 2014 found that over 90 per cent of primary school staff – and eight in ten secondary school teachers – say they haven’t received specific training on how to tackle homophobic and biphobic bullying.
Results of the Index were announced on Friday 8 July at Stonewall’s Education for All conference, where speakers included Gok Wan and Yvette Cooper MP.
Read the full Education Equality Index
Stonewall is Britain’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans equality, working to create a world where every single person can be accepted without exception.
It was founded in 1989 by a small group of people who wanted to break down barriers to equality. Stonewall continues to campaign and lobby government to change laws to ensure everyone, everywhere, is free to be themselves.
Stonewall works in partnership with a growing network of more than 700 organisations to help create real change for the better. It campaigns to eliminate homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in communities, and empowers LGBT people and their allies to be role models wherever they live, work, shop, socialise or pray.
To get involved visit us at www.stonewall.org.uk Registered charity number 1101255
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For more information:
Sarah Moore, Communications Officer, Stonewall
020 7593 3471
Sarah.Moore@Stonewall.org.uk
Simon Cobby
Strategic Marketing and Communications Manager, Cambridgeshire County Council
01223 699281
Simon.Cobby@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
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Cambs County Council ranks with the best for tackling LGBT bullying in schools
8 July 2016
Stonewall, Britain’s lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality charity, has named Cambridgeshire County Council as one of the best local authorities in Britain for tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying and celebrating difference in its schools.