LGBT+ Advice and Information and The Rainbow Flag Award

The Rainbow Flag Award

At North Cheshire, we are proudly working towards the Rainbow Flag Award. The Rainbow Flag Award is a quality assurance framework for primary schools, secondary schools, SEND schools and colleges. Working towards and achieving this award ensures a positive whole-school approach to LGBT+ inclusion and education. The aim of the award is to ensure the representation of LGBT+ lives and people within our curriculum. Creating a safe and accepting community filled with compassion and thoughtfulness in school, means this mentality can be taken forward into the future by our students. 

We are committed to improving the lives of all young people, as well as the LGBT+ young people at our school, those from LGBT+ families, and LGBT+ staff members. We are striving to develop effective strategies to combat LGBTphobia and educate children to ensure an inclusive and accepting school environment where all children can flourish. 

We have successfully completed the first section ‘Skilled Teachers’ which ensures that staff can recognise and consistently challenge and report LGBTphobia, and are confidently using positive and appropriate language around LGBT+ identities.

The children have enjoyed learning about the 9 Protected Characteristics and the British Values and how mutual respect is key to ensuring a world where equality and diversity is celebrated.

Please see below some of the wonderful work we have already done. We are looking forward to sharing even more with you as we continue working towards this award!
Thank you for your support so far, I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback about our school taking part in working towards this award. Please see the feedback form link.

Please also note that there is a new page on our school website with LGBT+ advice and information.

Kind regards

Miss Morris
PSHE Lead

 

What has changed about Relationships and Sex Education? 

What is RSHE & what do pupils learn?

RSHE stands for relationships, sex and health education.

Relationships education has been compulsory for pupils in primary education since September 2020. Health education is now compulsory in all schools too.

In primary schools, the subjects should put in place the key building blocks for healthy, respectful relationships, focusing on family and friendships, in all contexts, including online. This will sit alongside the essential understanding of how to be healthy.

For primary schools, the guidance says that:  

• Relationships Education must be taught in all schools in England  
• All schools should teach about different families (which can include LGBT+ parents), along with families headed by grandparents, single parents, adoptive parents, and foster parents/carers, among other family structures  
• Schools need to make sure that the needs of all pupils are appropriately met  
• All pupils need to understand the importance of equality and respect  
• Schools must ensure they comply with the relevant provisions of the Equality Act 2010, which name sexual orientation and gender reassignment as protected characteristics.

Relationships Education also creates an opportunity to enable pupils to be taught about positive emotional and mental wellbeing, including how friendships can support mental wellbeing.

At North Cheshire, we want to assure you that we are committed to supporting all of the parents and children in our school community. Please feel free to get in touch to ask for advice and support about any area of LGBT+ support.

Please see below some of the work we have achieved so far and also LGBT+ advice and information. 

At North Cheshire, we strive to support children and parents. Please see the links below for LGBT+ advice and information websites. 

Advice and Information

1. The Proud Trust
   https://www.theproudtrust.org/ 

2. Mermaids UK
   https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/         

3. Glossary of LGBT+ Terminology
   Glossary of LGBT+ words

LGBT+ Support Group Links

1. Provide online support for LGBT+ young people and the adults in their lives.
   https://www.theproudtrust.org/proud-connections/

2. A local, inclusive hub for Stockport’s LGBT+ community, family and friends
   https://forwardlgbt.org.uk/

3. The Proud Trust’s resources for Trusted Adults of LGBT+ children and young people
   https://www.theproudtrust.org/trusted-adults/

4. The Proud Trust Youth Group finder to search for local groups in your area
   https://www.theproudtrust.org/young-people/youth-groups/ 

5. Proud Connections live chat support
   https://www.theproudtrust.org/proud-connections/