Curriculum for Excellence
Different young people need different kinds and levels of support to learn, achieve and grow. This is why the Curriculum for Excellence emphasises that personal support is the condition for young people to gain as much as possible from the opportunities that schools and their partners can offer. However, the minimum condition for learning is safety from discrimination and bullying. Homophobic bullying in schools can have a damaging impact on young people’s attainment, mental health and, ultimately, their life chances.
Anti-homophobia work in schools, alongside all other anti-bullying and anti-discrimination work, supports the achievement of the four capacities of Curriculum for Excellence in children and young people.
- Homophobic bullying has proven links with low attainment, truancy and early school leaving. LGBT pupils who feel happy and safe in school are more likely to be successful learners, determined to reach their full potential.
- Homophobic bullying can cause LGBT young people to feel that they are of less value than their peers; this can damage their confidence and self-esteem. A school with a clear, inclusive ethos in which bullying and homophobia are consistently challenged will support pupils to develop into healthy and confident individuals with positive values and attitudes.
- A school environment where homophobia goes unchallenged limits all pupils' ability to express themselves freely and can crush pupils' ambitions and confidence. An open, inclusive school community where every pupil's contribution is valued and developed helps lay the foundations for each pupil's achievement and development of the skills they need to become effective contributors to Scotland’s future social and economic success.
- An ethos of equality and dignity for all pupils in your school will help young people exercise their own rights responsibly and with respect for the rights of others. This will enable them to develop into responsible citizens who participate fully in the life of Scotland.
An education that actively supports all children and young people to achieve the four capacities of Curriculum for Excellence is the foundation for:
- a skilled and economically successful society
- healthy, confident and achieving citizens
- a fairer and more humane society, where people respect themselves and each other
- a vibrant population that continually innovates and develops
Access a range of adaptable cross-curricular lesson plan suggestions for Third, Fourth and Senior levels, along with guidance on addressing anti-homophobia and LGBT issues with young people here
Email info@lgbtyouth.org.uk to order Challenging Homophobia Together campaign materials for your school.