Maria Exall
This Government’s Free Schools and Academies programme could be putting in jeopardy some of the massive steps forward that the last decade has seen on equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people.
The equal civil rights for LGBT people that were brought in under the previous Government have been accompanied by an increased awareness of the continuing problem of homophobic bullying in schools, and the persistence of homophobic attitudes among many young people.
But the setting up of Free Schools and Academies with a licence to disregard the requirements of current good educational practice may end up creating islands of homophobia – schools where pupils, their parents and teachers are subject to ongoing discrimination and prejudice without challenge.
