Policy & Law

Useful policies and legislative documents can be found below. This section is periodically updated with new material.

Homophobia and bullying

Schools Out writes to the Education Secretary about the recent white paper

Department For Children, Schools and Families: Homophobic Bullying
Safe to Learn: Embedding anti-bullying work in schools
This guidance provides school governors, heads, teachers and other staff with information about how to prevent and respond to homophobic bullying. It is intended to be read in conjunction with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) resources on bullying and behaviour, particularly Safe to Learn, and is to be used against the backdrop of a school’s existing policies.

Legislation and DfEE Guidance on Tackling Homophobic Bullying in Schools

Harassment and Bullying - 'Dear colleague letter' from Office of Civil Rights, US Department of Education 2010
"I encourage you to reevaluate the policies and practices your school uses to address bullying and harassment to ensure that they comply with the mandates of the federal civil rights laws... I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure equal access to education, and to promote safe and respectful school climates for America’s students..."

Runnymede Trust Faith Schools Project April 2007 (Word Doc)

Them and Us - A guide to anti-homophobia policies and practice in secondary schools (PDF)

North Lincolnshire Local Authority Promoting Diversity: Policy and Guidance For the Prevention of Homophobic Bullying 2006 (PDF)

Tackling Homophobic Hate Crime - CrimeReduction.gov.uk

Health

Department of Health - Reducing health inequalities for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people - briefings for health and social care staff
Young lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people can be vulnerable to a number of health risks because of people’s reactions to their identity. They may also feel stigmatised; there are very few role models for young LGB people, and many conclude that society will not approve of them.

More documents can be found in Further Tools - Health section

Equalities legislation

Working for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality - programme of work from the Government Equalities Office - June 2010

Communities and Local Government - Guidance on new measures to outlaw discrimination on grounds of religion or belief in the provision of goods, facilities and services - Part 2 Equality Act 2006 (PDF)
The religion or belief provisions of Part 2 prohibit discrimination on grounds of religion or belief (or lack of religion or belief) in the provision of goods, facilities and services, in education, in the use and disposal of premises, and in the exercise of public functions. The religion or belief provisions of Part 2 do not deal with employment. Nor do they make specific provision to cover harassment.

Communities and Local Government - Guidance on new measures to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation - Part 3 Equality Act Regulations 2007 (PDF)
Outlaws discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities, services, education, the disposal and management of premises and in the exercise of public functions. The guidance sets out the effect of the law and the exemptions provided.

Getting Equal: Proposals to Outlaw Sexual Orientation Discrimination in the Provision of Goods and Services - Response to the Consultation by Schools Out (Word Doc)

Workplace Legislation
incorporating Sexual Orientation Discrimination 2003, Same Sex Partnership 2004 and Gender Recognition Bill 2004

Fairness and Freedom: The Final Report of the Equalities Review. Published 28 February 2007 (External Site)

Consultations & Guidance

LGBT Equality at Work - TUC Advice for trade union negotiators - Revised edition 2011

Researching and monitoring adolescence and sexual orientation: Asking the right questions, at the right time - Equality and Human Rights Commission Publication - December 2010
Elizabeth McDermott, Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of York

GUIDANCE - Guiding Principles for the Police Service in relation to the articulation and expression of religious beliefs and their manifestation in the workplace - May 2008

Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and the Association of Colleges (AoC) Consultation on Community Cohesion - April 2008
The document sets out five key objectives for providers in promoting a cohesive society and tackling extremism and practical steps to achieve them.

Developing your policies

Anti-Bullying Policy

Equal Opportunities Policy

Model Policy Review Guide (Word Doc)

Online resources

UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Award
One of the greatest challenges that schools face is to define a clear set of values – not just rules - that has been developed with the full involvement of the school community and is actively upheld by pupils. UNICEF UK’s RRSA initiative helps schools to use the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as the values framework that enables this to be achieved.

Equality and Human Rights Commission Sectoral Guidance
On this page you can find the non-statutory sectoral guidance that has been developed to supplement the Codes of Practice. The guidance is set out for different sectors such as health, education, local government and criminal justice and offers practical and helpful ways on meeting the duties.

Gender equality duty and schools - EOC guidance for public authorities (CSN) 2007 (Word Doc)

Sexuality - The New Agenda Revised April 2007 (PDF)
A guide for local authorities on engaging with lesbian, gay and bisexual communities.

Documents are provided for information only, Schools Out is not responsible for the content of material in this section.