Abstract

This is a 28-month project (September 2006 to December 2008), supporting primary teachers in developing strategies to address lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in their own schools and classrooms. The project team, led by Elizabeth Atkinson and Renee DePalma at the University of Sunderland, in collaboration with Michael Reiss at the Institute of Education and Nick Givens and David Nixon at the University of Exeter, along with three Research Assistants, will support up to fifteen primary teachers in each year in developing and evaluating strategies for addressing sexualities equality within the context of the broader agenda of providing an inclusive education for all pupils, and an inclusive environment for pupils, parents and teachers. Together we aim to create a research-based community of practice where positive strategies can be shared, explored and developed, then disseminated to the wider teaching and research community through the creation of teaching ideas and resources. Project objectives include: To add to the understanding of the operation of heteronormativity (the assumption that heterosexuality is normal, so anything else is abnormal) in school contexts; To create a community of practice within which teachers can develop effective approaches to addressing sexualities equality within the broader context of inclusive education.