Why is LGBT+ education important?
Ensuring everyone in our environment feels represented and validated is the key to your Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) strategy. This must include gender, gender identity and sexual orientation.
This is underpinned inย legislation, toย which schools andย organisations must adhere to, including theย statutoryย requirements under the Equality Act 2010 and the Statutory Guidance on RSHEย (Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health education).
Schools and organisations have a duty to protect LGBT+ people and their families and it is a requirement to encourage positive relationships between all groups. We encourage an intersectional approach to the curriculum, well-being, mental health , pastoral care, achievement and community activities.
What do Educate & Celebrate do?
We support you to embed gender, gender identity andย sexual orientation into the fabric of yourย Schoolย or Organisation.
We do this by providing online training and resources through structured and bespoke programmes for staff, support staff, leadership teams, boards, directors and governing bodies.
Our programmes include services forย Trainee Teachers, Council, Boroughs and Unions, Student Workshops, Continuing Professional Development trainingย and a ย PRIDE in Inclusion Award.ย Plus an extensive range of Resourcesย and Membership for all key stages including nurseries, schools, sixth forms, colleges, and Universities in all sectors including mainstream, grammar, independent and boarding settings, both nationally and internationally.
How do you make schools LGBT+ friendly?
By taking an organisational approach to increasing the visibility of gender, gender identity and sexual orientation within your policies, training, curriculum, environment and community.
The process of change should flow consistently through the reception area, corridors, classrooms, website, school hall and staffroom.
To support you on your journey with a structured action plan for change, you can register for our pioneering PRIDE in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award. which will cover all of your EDI objectives.
We have also developed a plethora of free resources to support you on your journey, including posters, lesson plans, policy guidance and songs
To access premium resources you can join us as a member
How do you develop an LGBT+ inclusive curriculum?
Establish the ethos fromย the get go:ย engage all stakeholders in your EDI strategy, identifying areas for intervention by recognising any heteronormative and cisnormative practices.
Break the binary: develop aย gender freeย environmentย through the language you use, what you teach and how you teach it, how you line up and seat students, how you address each other and how all genders can access everything within the curriculum.
Listen to your students: Activelyย engage young people inย campaigning andย activism for social justiceย withinย yourย organisation. They will know where the gaps are in provision.
For more helpful hints and tips How to Transform your school into an LGBT+ friendly place written by Dr Elly Barnes MBE and Dr Anna Carlile is a practical guide for nursery, primary and secondary teachers and is available to buy in our bookstore here
Key benefits of online training
Here at E&C all our training is online using Zoom. There are many benefits to online training, the most obvious being Sustainability for both parties (time, cost and travel) but it has also been proved that online training is more effective for a number of other reasons including:
- Retention of Information - ย Research suggests that online learning has been shown to increase retention of information. People are more comfortable in their own learning environment and therefore concentrate more.
- Confidentiality - People will naturally get involved when there is anonymity. There is naturally more interaction than in a non virtual setting.
- Flexibility & Convenience - ย Online training enables us to deliver training to you at a time that is convenient for everyone, day (and often during the night!). Everyone is able to log in from wherever they may be. We work with many schools and organisations overseas and are always happy to work within their hours of business, something we would be unable to do without great cost, travel and of course; time.
Our webinars are virtual lecture halls that can host up to 1,000 participants.ย Attendees can interact via the Q&A, chat and participate in polls, anonymously. Plus we can have designated panelists that are able to share their screen, video and audio. Attendance records can also be shared with the designated lead for each session.
Going for Gold!
Sam Coles, Diversity & Inclusion Manager at BMet, talks about their journey with E&C to achieve their GOLD PRIDE in EDI Award. They have ensured that their policies, training, community, environment & curriculum are LGBTQ+ inclusive to create consistency and a safe environment for everyone.
'All teachers in all schools need this type of training, it should be essential CPD. I'll actively encourage more to engage. Thanks so much from a parent whose child has gone through hell with homophobic bullies.'
'Covered a huge amount of information, was interesting and engaging. Dr Barnes is a great presenter, thank you.'
'A reminder for schools to fully embrace EDI, thank you, very informative.
Excellent content, excellent slides, excellent presentation.'
PRIDE in EDI Award
Join 100's of schools who are on their journey to LGBT+ inclusion through our pioneering Award Programme. We empower and support you to embed gender, gender identity and sexual orientation into the fabric of your school.
Lead Teacher Programme
Do you want to lead on LGBT+ inclusivity in your nursery, primary, secondary school or college?
Leadship Teams
& Governors
EDI Training
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Training for your Leadership Teams and Governors.
Book your training
Is your curriculum LGBT+ inclusive? Need help with RSE provision, teacher training and resources?
E&C Membership
Become an Exclusive Educate & Celebrate Member and access our Premium Resources
PRIDE Youth Network
Do you want to support young people to make positive change within your school?Would you like your pupils to have a safe supportive network around them so they can be themselves?
PRIDE workshops for pupils
We offer a full range of gender, gender identity and sexual orientation assemblies, workshops, classroom sessions with students.
International Schools
We are proud to partner with International Schools and this year we are especially proud of the International School of Zug & Luzern for achieving their PRIDE in Inclusion Award!Find out more โ
Boarding & Independent Schools
We regularly deliver Continuing Professional Development, PRIDE Youth Network and Pupil sessions to numerous Boarding Schools all over the UK and beyond
Trainee Teachers
ITT/SCITT/PGCE Training
As long serving teachers, we love working with trainees. We are fully equipped to answer questions about the teaching profession and deliver lectures on inclusion for all key stages.
Councils, Boroughs & Unions
We regularly partner with Councils, Boroughs, Unions, Consortiums, Trusts and Organisations to deliver Continuing Professional Development Days.
PRIDE in Sport
At E&C we advocate for inclusive sport as soon as young people enter the education system, throughout school and beyond.
PRIDE in Organisations
Knowing where to start can be overwhelming.
We offer a range of services to guide you through the change process.
Policy Guidance
Free policies and other guidance to make your school more LGBT+ friendly.
PRIDE in Education
Classroom Resources
Free Lesson Plans for all key stages in a range of subjects.
PRIDE Songs
Lots of songs to download free of charge - with backing track, lyrics, actions and chords.