{"id":35462,"date":"2013-11-21T10:02:00","date_gmt":"2013-11-21T10:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=71d6f3da2dbda3194e5fc93c4e1b4740"},"modified":"2013-11-21T10:02:00","modified_gmt":"2013-11-21T10:02:00","slug":"news-story-tackling-homophobic-bullying-in-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=35462","title":{"rendered":"News story: Tackling Homophobic Bullying in Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jo Swinson announces a new initiative to help drive out homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in secondary schools during Anti-Bullying Week<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The new project will invite organisations to bid for funding to conduct a full review of all the available evidence and existing practices currently in place in schools to tackle this issue.<\/p>\n

Today, Jo Swinson met with students at Hackney\u2019s Bridge Academy<\/a> to discuss how they are tackling homophobic bullying. The school is a member of Stonewall\u2019s School Champions programme<\/a> and has been doing some outstanding work on the issue <\/p>\n

Equalities Minister Jo Swinson said:<\/p>\n

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Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying has serious consequences – it can affect children\u2019s well-being, lead to poor educational performance and prevent them getting ahead in life. It\u2019s completely unacceptable that young people are experiencing this type of derogatory treatment.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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This new project will help us to fully understand the issues and develop effective, evidence-based tools and best practice that will help schools to stamp out this harmful behaviour.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Guidance for schools<\/h2>\n

This projects builds on from work the government has already undertaken to tackle bullying in schools, including publishing updated advice and guidance<\/a> for schools and governing bodies; and giving schools greater legal powers to tackle bad behaviour and cyber-bullying.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s announcement follows the Church of England\u2019s pledge to introduce a campaign to fight homophobic bullying in its schools. Earlier this week, Stonewall also launched a new campaign<\/a> to tackle the use of homophobic language in schools through posters and guidance to address the misuse of the word \u2018gay\u2019.<\/p>\n

Organisations wishing to tender to carry out this piece of work can access details of how to apply by visiting: https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/contracts-finder<\/a><\/p>\n

Anti-Bullying Week<\/a> is an annual event set up by the Anti-Bullying Alliance to give people all over the country a chance to think about bullying and come up with new ideas on how to prevent it.<\/p>\n