With only 58% of LGBTQ+ pupils feeling safe at school on a daily basis in the past 12 months (Stonewall – 2022 School Report), the seventh edition of the Pride in Education conference on 4 July is to stand as a crucial event in the fight for inclusivity and equality. This year’s conference is partnering with the Festival of Education, one of the UK’s most exciting and inspiring education events.
The festival brings together educators from across the country and beyond for professional development, discussions, and networking opportunities. The 14th annual Festival of Education will take place at Wellington College in Crowthorne from 4-5 July, featuring over 300 speakers and thousands of attendees from the education sector.
“Our collaboration with the Festival of Education provides us with the opportunity to engage with new audiences and offer educational opportunities for education practitioners throughout the UK,” stated Laïla El-Métoui, founder of Pride in Education. “Our programme highlights a variety of speakers with diverse backgrounds, representing various identities within the LGBTQ+ community and professionals from all sectors of the education field, with the support of Pearson UK.”
The Current Situation for LGBTQ+ Rights in the UK
- Only 58% of LGBTQ+ pupils felt safe at school on a daily basis in the past 12 months, compared to 73% of non-LGBTQ+ students. (Stonewall – 2022 School Report)
- 8% of LGBTQ+ pupils reported not seeing any positive messaging about being LGBTQ+ from their school in the past 12 months. (Stonewall – 2022 School Report)
- LGBTQ+ young people are three times more likely to self-harm, twice as likely to have depression, anxiety, and panic attacks, and twice as likely to contemplate suicide compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers. (Just Like Us, the LGBTQ+ young people’s charity)
According to Pride in Education, the “picture in the UK has been worsening for many LGBTQ+ people in education and beyond. Recent government consultations and guidance have fuelled a fearful attitude towards the teaching and support of LGBTQ+ lives and issues, creating an increasingly hostile environment for transgender and non-binary students and educators and undermining existing safeguards outlined in current equality laws. Moreover, there is no explicit legal recognition of intersex people or intersex characteristics under UK law”.
For the past five years, Pride in Education has championed a more inclusive education sector, especially focusing on voices seldom heard within LGBTQ+ advocacy, such as intersex and asexual representation. Recently, Pride in Education has joined forces with other LGBTQ+ organisations to provide clarity and support during the ongoing politicisation of transgender rights. It’s hoped the Pride in Education strand at the Festival of Education will further amplify important LGBTQ+ topics.
The Pride in Education strand of the Festival of Education is offering five workshops and one keynote on Thurday, 4 July, in person, at Wellington College, Crowthorne.
- 09.30 – 10.15am: Asexuality: The Invisible Orientation by Sarah Cosgriff
- 10.30 – 11.15am: A Beginner’s Guide to LGBTIQA+ Inclusion for Primary Schools by David Church
- 11.45am – 12.30pm: Voices Unheard in Class: Exploring Intersex Lived Experiences by Anick Soni
- 12.45 – 1.30pm: Young Trans People and Learning by Dr Natacha Kennedy
- 14.45 – 3.30pm: Breaking Barriers: How Can ESOL/EAL Teachers Integrate LGBTIQA+ Lives in Their Sessions? by Laïla El-Métoui
Keynote Address: The Power of Persistence: 55+ Years of Advocating for LGBT+ Visibility and Safety in Education and Beyond, delivered by Professor Sue Sanders, founder of LGBT+ History Month, and David Braniff-Herbert, lead organiser for LGBT+ Educators, National Education Union.
For more information and to book your ticket, visit: Festival of Education Agenda
