Pride and LGTBQ+ issues represented in Bolton's schools

Many of the borough’s schools make a concerted effort to educate their students about the Pride movement and the historical struggles of the LGBTQ+ community.

During Pride month throughout June this year, Smithills School decided it was a “good time to talk to pupils about the history of pride and why it is so important to recognise the ongoing pursuit of equal justice for the LGBTQ+ community”, a spokesperson said.

An example of some of the work that Smithills School did with their students during Pride Month

Ladybridge High School has a year-round weekly lunchtime Pride Group that which supports their LGBTQ+ learners.

Maths students in years seven and eight at Westhoughton High School undertook a project in July all about Alan Turing, with a pride-themed “cryptography challenge”.

A Westhoughton High School spokesperson said: “The challenge involved designing a coded slogan to celebrate the themes of acceptance and triumph over adversity to honour pride month.”

The students designed Pride flags with the slogans on them which will be displayed at the front of the school during next year’s Pride Month.

Bolton School is sponsoring Bolton Pride this year.

As a Stonewall Champion school - a global campaign group that stands with LGTBQ+ people - Bolton School does a lot of work around the Pride movement.

Naomi Lord is the foundation director of creative learning and partnerships at Bolton School, as well as being a specialist leader in cultural education.

She said: “The school’s extracurricular clubs offer options to explore diversity matters and Pride Month is celebrated.

“The pastoral team promote kindness, friendship and inclusivity.

“We are lucky to count Sir Ian McKellen amongst our distinguished alumni. Sir Ian visited the school as part of Bolton Pride's launch and as a Stonewall founder and representative.

“We also celebrated the 30th anniversary of Stonewall as part of surprise birthday celebrations for the actor's 80th birthday.”

Sir Ian McKellen visiting Bolton School and spotting his name on the Monitors' board - he was School Captain during his time there

She added: “The most successful classrooms are inclusive - all voices and backgrounds part of the opportunity for debate and fair consensus. The same lessons extend to a good society.”

There is plenty more work to be done in the borough’s educational settings, however.

Turton School students did a survey in a classroom which asked "do you think schools educate students enough about LGBT discrimination?"

Worryingly, 100 per cent of the students and teachers asked answered "no" and said that even though there are posters that explain that being gay is not a bad thing, throughout the school the students feel they are not being educated enough about the discrimination taking place or different sexualities.