Stonewall, Britain’s lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality charity, has named B&NES Council as one of the best local authorities in Britain for tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying and celebrating difference in its schools.
It comes as the charity publishes its Education Equality Index 2016, listing the Top 10 local authorities in Britain, with Bath & North East Somerset coming in joint second place with Brighton & Hove City Council.
The Index measures practice and policy at all of the participating local authorities. 50 local authorities submitted entries to the 2016 Index, the most competitive to date.
Bath & North East Somerset Council has actively encouraged schools and other youth settings to develop children and young people-led Equality Teams (E-Teams) to work collaboratively on campaigns around diversity and inclusion.
It has implemented over 40 E-Teams in the region, many of which focus on activities around challenging discriminatory language.
The council’s LGBT youth group SPACE also produced a film about its work, which was launched by the Mayor, and shared with PSHE leads at secondary and special schools.
Currently, the group is working with media students from Bath College to produce another film aimed at health professionals, to improve the experience of young lesbian, gay, bi and trans people accessing medical care.
Bath & North East Somerset’s Council’s multi-agency Challenging Homophobia and Transphobia Steering Group has produced new guidance for primary schools on making lessons LGBT-inclusive and has worked with Gendered Intelligence to develop a checklist for settings supporting trans young people.
It has also set up a support group for LGBT staff in schools and settings.
Cllr Tim Warren Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council said: “We are delighted that once again Bath & North East Somerset Council has been ranked in the top five in the Stonewall Equality Index 2016.
“Getting into the top five three times in a row is an incredible achievement and shows our consistent performance to promote LGBT equality.
“This is testimony to our excellent inclusion work and to great partnership work between the Local Authority, schools, external agencies and, in particular, children and young people who are determined to make Bath & North East Somerset a more inclusive place to live, work and visit.”
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.
“Bath & North East Somerset Council has shone with its incredible initiatives and work with and for young people, and is role modelling behaviour in its commitment to fighting 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 8th July at Stonewall’s Education for All conference, where speakers included Gok Wan and Yvette Cooper MP.
You can find full results of the 2016 Education Equality Index at: www.stonewall.org.uk/educationequalityindex.