Abbot's Lea School

About the award

Abbot’s Lea School has embarked on a 2 -long journey towards becoming an even more inclusive and accepting educational institution by launching the Rainbow Flag Award programme. The goal of this initiative is to ensure that the school’s policies, practices, and environment are safe and welcoming for all individuals, particularly those who identify as LGBT+.

The programme kicked off with a full-day training session for staff members leading the programme, which provided them with the knowledge and tools they need to guide the rest of the school community towards a more inclusive approach. The training covered various topics, such as how to create effective policies that promote inclusion and diversity, as well as how to support young people in understanding gender and sexuality.

The school has now completed 4 sections of the programme and has received a badge of completion for the areas completed. However, the school’s efforts do not stop here, as the programme also includes developing awareness, knowledge, and skills of the staff, families, and governors. This will involve ongoing training, workshops, and discussions that will help everyone in the school community better understand and appreciate the diverse perspectives and experiences of others.

In addition to training and development, the Rainbow Flag Award programme will also involve making changes to the curriculum to ensure that it is more diversified and inclusive. This will involve including more content that represents diverse voices and experiences, as well as creating opportunities for students to share their own experiences and perspectives.

Engagement with the Rainbow Flag programme helps us to give students a stronger voice in the school community by providing them with opportunities to express themselves and contribute to decision-making processes. This will help to ensure that the school’s policies and practices are responsive to the needs and concerns of all students, including those who identify as LGBT+.

Speaking about the programme, Head of Autism Research and Development, Dr Sara Muršić, said: “We are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for all our students, staff, and families. The Rainbow Flag Award programme is an important step towards achieving this goal. By working together and building a deeper understanding of the diverse perspectives and experiences of others, we can create a truly inclusive and accepting school community.”

The Rainbow Flag Award programme is a national quality assurance framework for schools and colleges in the UK that aims to promote LGBT+ inclusion and visibility. It is based on a set of six standards that cover various aspects of the school’s policies, practices, and environment. The programme is designed to help schools and colleges identify areas where they can improve and provide guidance on how to make positive changes.

Abbot’s Lea School is one of the first special schools in Liverpool to take part in the Rainbow Flag Award programme, and its commitment to creating an inclusive and accepting environment is an inspiring example for other schools to follow. By working together and promoting diversity and inclusion, we can create a better, more accepting world for everyone.

Resources