A Glasgow school has become the first in Scotland to fully embed LGBT inclusive education across its curriculum.
Castleton Primary School is the first to complete the national implementation and evaluation toolkit, which assists schools in implementing the Scottish government’s approach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) inclusive education.
The primary has fully completed the staff training and consulted with the school community. It has also planned, developed and implemented LGBT inclusive education and evaluated the effectiveness of the work within the school.
During a visit to the school in the city’s southside on Tuesday, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “Many schools across the country already take positive steps to educate learners about LGBT identities and issues but this is an important milestone.
“We will continue to do all we can to help young people to reach their full potential in a diverse and inclusive society.”
In 2019, the Scottish government launched a dedicated package of resources to “promote equality, reduce bullying, and improve the educational experiences of LGBT children and young people”.
In 2021 it went further, with Scotland becoming the first country in the world to fully roll out LGBT inclusive education across the school curriculum.
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The package includes teaching resources to ensure subjects feature LGBT identities, issues and history, and training for teachers and school leaders to approach topics with knowledge and confidence.
It aims to effectively challenge homophobia, biphobia and/or transphobia in the school environment and wider community.
A recent report on the approach by Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) found it improved the attitudes and experiences of pupils and staff, including LGBT young people.
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Ms Gilruth added: “We know that this approach has already improved experiences for many young people, with pupils reporting fewer instances of anti-LGBT behaviour, language, and bullying, both in school and the wider community.
“It is clear that this inclusive approach to education is already delivering real results for young people.
“Scotland’s education system must support everyone, and it is vital the curriculum is as diverse as the young people who learn in our schools.
“The inspirational work being undertaken at Castleton and schools like it across the country highlight how inclusive education can help to stamp out prejudice and I look forward to seeing further progress on this work in the coming months and years.”
