TACKLE HOMOPHOBIA

England

Tackling homophobia in schools is essential to effectively meet the Every Child Matters agenda.
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The Education and Inspections Act 2006 requires schools to ensure homophobic bullying is dealt with.
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Guidance produced by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) in 2007 provides specific information about how schools can tackle homophobic bullying: Homophobic Bullying. Preventing and Responding to Homophobic Bullying in Schools.
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This guidance provides information for governors, heads, teachers and other school staff about recognising, preventing, responding and monitoring homophobic bullying. It highlights that:

‘Schools need to take an active approach to tackling all forms of bullying, including homophobic bullying. .. A preventative approach to bullying means that schools safeguard the welfare of their pupils.'

The earlier government guidance, Stand Up For Us. Challenging Homophobia in Schools (DfES 2004), remains a useful and relevant document.
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Government guidance makes it clear that all schools, primary and secondary have a responsibility to tackle homophobic bullying.

The Equality Bill (2009) is likely to be passed by the Westminster Parliament to become law in 2010. It will require public authorities to promote equality on the grounds of sexual orientation in line with existing duties covering race, gender and disability.
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