Virginia Primary School, Tower Hamlets
Why Choose This Project?
The school was in the process of developing its Single Equality policy and after a number of serious incidents in the local area involving homophobia, felt this would be an important and challenging area to tackle and fitted with the school’s ethos and values.
What Did The School Want To Achieve Through This Project?
- Increase parental awareness and understanding of homophobic bullying and respecting differences
- Increase pupil awareness and understanding of homophobic bullying and respecting differences
- Increase staff awareness and understanding of homophobic bullying and respecting differences
What Did The School Do To Achieve These Aims?
The project was supported throughout by the Healthy Lives team through one-to-one meetings and attendance at staff meetings. Researching and sourcing appropriate surveys for data collection provided the school with a clear understanding of need and what they had achieved. They commissioned Chinwag Theatre Company to develop a homophobia workshop for Years 5 and 6; an anti-racism workshop for Years 3 and 4 and a diversity and equality workshop for parents. As a Stonewall Champion, they worked extensively with Stonewall who ran training for TA’s and teachers and a separate meeting for governors around tackling homophobic bullying. They also held a parents coffee morning and recommended resources to support the schools work in the classroom. Numerous staff INSETs were run to support the development of the Equality and Diversity / Single Equality policy; and curriculum review and planning meetings were held to embed equality into the school curriculum.
What Data Did The School Collect and What Was The Result?
1. Parents Survey
“Do you think young people should learn about all types of relationships, including those of lesbian, gay and bisexual people?”
“Are people made fun of or targeted for hurtful behaviour when they behave outside the typical gender stereotypes in your school?”
“Yes sometimes” answers have increased by 19% to 96% - this could demonstrate greater understanding of hurtful behaviour in relation to gender sterotypes
0% of parents agreed with this statement in the before survey but 50% agreed in the after survey.
2. Pupil Survey
“Do you think young people should learn about all types of relationships, including those of lesbian and gay people?”
“Yes” answers increased by 30% to 65%
“No” answers decreased by 30% to 12%
3. Teacher Survey
All staff agreed it is an inclusive workplace and feel well supported.
Conclusion
“A very positive and challenging experience for pupils, parents and school staff. We have opened the door to exploring with the school community, respect and equality for all.” Clive Davies, Deputy Head