Secondary Overview

Secondary Overview

We work with secondary schools across Scotland to support a proactive approach to addressing prejudice and bullying.

This includes our LGBT Inclusive Education programme, aligned with the national approach set out in Scottish Government guidance, supporting schools to engage confidently and meaningfully.

It is a national expectation that all teachers in Scotland engage with this approach by completing the national professional learning we deliver on behalf of the Scottish Government and including the LGBT Learning Themes within everyday teaching.

In secondary settings, LGBT Inclusive Education builds upon the foundations established in primary, with themes included across curricular areas in ways that are meaningful, relevant to subject learning, and suitable for learners’ age and stage.

This may include engaging with texts by LGBT authors in English, developing inclusive vocabulary in Modern Languages, exploring the contributions of LGBT figures across subjects such as Maths, Science, Technologies and PE, and studying LGBT history and rights within Social Subjects and RME. Learners may also encounter the work of LGBT artists and creatives in Expressive Arts, alongside continued learning around prejudice, bullying, and discrimination in Health and Wellbeing, supporting a deeper and more developed understanding.

Through our professional learning for teachers, workshops for learners, and curriculum resources, we support schools to meet national expectations and create environments where all children see themselves reflected in their learning.

 

Recommended Pathway for Schools

Drawing on our expertise and experience working with schools across Scotland, we have identified this pathway as the most effective way to achieve meaningful and sustained impact when engaging with our services.

  1. All teaching staff complete Stage 1 of national CPD

  2. Stage 2 of national CPD booked

  3. All teaching staff complete Stage 2 of national CPD

  4. School action plan developed

  5. Secondary school assemblies

  6. Secondary learner workshops

Download the full secondary pathway

Our school services are designed to address prejudice and improve outcomes for all learners. Our evaluation data demonstrates a strong impact, with 9 out of 10 learners reporting an increased understanding of prejudice and bullying. Visit Our Impact for the current data from our services.

To ensure maximum effectiveness, we recommend that all teaching staff complete the national CPD prior to the delivery of learner assemblies or workshops. At a minimum, key staff – including pastoral care, those facilitating sessions, and any other relevant staff identified by the school – must have completed at least the Stage 1 E-Learning module.

Our experience shows that our services for learners are most impactful when supported by staff engagement with professional learning.

 

Assemblies

We offer year group assemblies for S1 to S6, focusing on addressing prejudice-based language such as “that’s so gay” and other discriminatory language still commonly used by learners. These sessions explore the impact of bullying and empower young people to play an active role in challenging it. Learners will also hear first-hand experiences from our speakers.

For schools beginning their implementation of LGBT Inclusive Education, we recommend delivering assemblies prior to workshops.

To book year group assemblies or find out more, please visit Assemblies.

 

Workshops

Our workshops support learners to strengthen their understanding of prejudice, including its causes, how it can escalate, and how it can be effectively addressed. Sessions focus on homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, while also recognising the wider impact of prejudice on different groups in society. We also offer adapted workshops for learners with ASN who are supported outwith the mainstream learning environment.

Workshops are recommended for schools already engaging with LGBT Inclusive Education. Where both assemblies and workshops are delivered, assemblies should take place first.

To book our workshops or find out more, please visit Secondary Workshops.

Professional Learning

Our Delivering LGBT Inclusive Education professional learning is a free national CPD programme, delivered on behalf of the Scottish Government and formally endorsed by Education Scotland.

The course equips staff with the knowledge and practical tools to effectively meet national expectations for LGBT Inclusive Education within their setting.

The programme is delivered in two stages – an online learning module followed by an in-person curriculum development session for all teaching staff – supporting a whole-school approach. Evaluation data shows a strong impact, and course participants are provided with access to high-quality resources and support to develop an inclusive curriculum tailored to their school context.

We also offer a dedicated professional learning module on online hate and disinformation through our Digital Discourse Initiative programme.

Access Professional Learning

Teaching Resources

We produce curriculum materials for teachers delivering LGBT Inclusive Education that are ready to use and can also be easily adapted for the needs of learners. These resources also serve as examples of how LGBT Inclusive Education can look in different curricular areas, ages and stages for teachers who want to produce their own classroom materials.

Visit our Secondary Resources page to view and download all of our available resources.

View Secondary Resources

lgbteducation.scot

We manage lgbteducation.scot, the national platform for LGBT Inclusive Education on behalf of the Scottish Government. It hosts all quality approved resources, the national ‘Delivering LGBT Inclusive Education’ CPD, the LGBT Inclusive Education Implementation and Evaluation Toolkit and all current national guidance for this policy area.