We would like to take this opportunity to let you know that we are taking part in the Rainbow Flag Award. The Rainbow Flag Award is a national quality assurance framework for primary schools. The Award is something that many schools choose to take part in each year to promote inclusion in its widest sense and forms part of an approach designed to challenge and prevent, amongst other things, LGBT+phobic bullying.

West Boldon Primary is a diverse and inclusive school and the Rainbow Flag Award supports the ethos of our school. It forms part of our school’s approach to PSHE which is delivered in many ways through the wider curriculum. Many schools have used this for some time in support of the National Curriculum which states that every state funded school must offer a curriculum which is balanced and broadly based, and which promotes spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school. Aa a school, we need to make provision for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE), and I strongly believe that working towards the Award will be beneficial to all of the children in our school. I am keen to stress that the work involved with the Rainbow Flag Award, and the supporting reading material is age appropriate. Importantly, and to address any concerns that you may have, the programme is not focused on sex education, but rather promotes acceptance and understanding of those who are members of the LGBTQ+ community.

As a school, we wish to work with any parent/carer that has concerns about the Rainbow Flag Award in order to allay those concerns. Please feel free to email [email protected] if you have any questions and I will be more than happy to answer them.

About the Rainbow Flag Award

The Award covers the following areas which we will be evidencing over the course of the year.

Staff, including Senior Leadership Teams and non-teaching staff, can recognise and consistently challenge and report LGBTphobia, and are confidently using positive and appropriate language around LGBT+ identities.

Governors and parents understand the need to combat LGBTphobia through positive education and representation, and know where to go for information, and if needed, support.

Effective policies are in place to address LGBTphobia and positively support whole-organisation LGBT+ inclusion.

LGBT+ people and identities are positively represented across all areas of the curriculum. This includes lessons and activities that are LGBT+ inclusive, as well as those that are LGBT+ specific.

Children and young people wishing to explore/express their gender and/or sexuality feel supported to do so. Skilled staff from within the organisation support them, including through signposting and referrals to appropriate local youth work services.