‘BEING LGBT IN SCHOOL’

7.2.1 Social, Personal and Health
Education (SPHE)
SPHE at post-primary level makes specific
provision for exploring bullying, as well
as the interrelated areas of belonging and
integrating, communication, conflict,
friendship, personal safety and relationships.
NEPS 1 promote the use of the Friends
for Life Programme as a support for the
implementation of the SPHE curriculum.
This is a school-based anxiety prevention and
resilience building programme for young
people. The World Health Organisation
cites Friends for Life as the only evidencebased
programme effective at all levels of
intervention for anxiety among young people
(WHO, 2004). The programme can be run by
teachers as a whole class programme or small
group intervention. NEPS psychologists
are trained to train teachers to deliver the
programme in schools.
Relationships and Sexuality
Education (RSE)
RSE at post-primary is an integral part
of SPHE. RSE provides opportunities to
explore and discuss areas such as human
sexuality and relationships that have
particular relevance to identity-based
bullying and in particular homophobic
and transphobic bullying.
7.2.2 Growing Up Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgender: A Resource
for SPHE/RSE
Of particular relevance is the resource
Growing Up Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender: A Resource for SPHE/RSE,
which was developed by the Department
of Education SPHE Support Service in
response to many requests from teachers and
students. The former SPHE Support Service
has since been integrated into the health
and well-being team of the Professional
Development Service for Teachers (PDST 2 ).
This comprehensive resource aims to
increase understanding and awareness about
sexual orientation and gender identity, and
to reduce stigma and discrimination against
people who are LGBT. Teaching about sexual
orientation, gender identity and related
issues such as homophobia and transphobia
can prove very effective in addressing
homophobic and transphobic bullying.
1 The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) is a support service of the Department of Education and Skills. NEPS
psychologists work with schools and are concerned with learning behaviour and social and emotional development. Each psychologist
is assigned a group of schools and works in a developmental way according to a shared planning process with the school. NEPS
promotes the continuum of support and student support teams as a focus for the support of individual students who may be
experiencing difficulties or challenges. www.education.ie
2 The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) is a support service of the Teacher Education Section, Department of
Education and Skills. The service encompasses the previous SPHE support service and provides training to teachers on SPHE and RSE,
including sexual orientation and gender. www.pdst.ie
A Resource for Post-Primary Schools to Prevent Homophobic and Transphobic Bullying and Support LGBT Students
65