Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Month

February 2008

LGBT History Month Conference

This conference was held to enable schools and other settings to:

gain a better understanding of their responsibility to tackle phobic bullying
to ensure they provide a safe learning environment for every child
to acknowledge, recognise and celebrate the diversity of the school community
to access appropriate teaching and learning resources which promote inclusion.

Homophobic bullying impacts upon GCSE and A-Level results, national assessments and truancy.
7 out of 10 pupils reported that homophobic bullying has an impact on their schools work.

(Source: Stonewall)

Every child has the right to feel safe to learn, free from bullying and harassment.

Feedback from the day was extremely positive:

100% of delegates would recommend the conference to their colleagues
90% felt they were now confident in LGBT issues in education

`I would like to share with you my sense of pride in being part of the LGBT conference. . . it was a truly inspirational day.'

`The Conference was excellent and particularly enthused and enlivened by the speakers who I feel made a real impact on the delegates.'

(Evaluation feedback)

Following on from the Conference, a steering group was established to set up an LGBT youth support group in Cornwall. Funding has been applied for, and LGBT youth consultations are underway.

The conference was well attended by delegates from a wide variety of agencies, including teachers and school staff, the Police, staff and students from higher and further education, voluntary organisations including Stonewall, FFLAG and YWCA.