Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

355. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school inspectors are reporting on the implementation of the anti-bullying policies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15377/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Departments Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools are designed to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based bullying behaviour amongst its pupils. The procedures recognise that a positive school culture and climate is key and set out a very practical way on what schools must do to both prevent bullying and to deal with bullying when it occurs.

All primary and post primary schools are required to adopt and implement an anti-bullying policy that fully complies with the requirements of the procedures. A template policy is provided in the procedures to help facilitate schools in this regard.

The procedures include a number of specific measures in respect of homophobic bullying including a requirement on all schools to have in place education and prevention strategies that explicitly deal with homophobic and transphobic bullying. The education and prevention strategies that the school will implement must be documented in the anti-bullying policy and must explicitly deal with the issue of identity-based bullying including in particular, homophobic and transphobic bullying.

To help schools in developing a positive whole-school approach the Department has produced a range of guidance documents and has also supported the provision of guidance by civil society organisations. “Being LGBT in School – A Resource for Post-Primary Schools to Prevent Homophobic and Transphobic Bullying and Support LGBT Students”, which was developed by the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN) with the support of my Department, provides guidance in relation to supporting LGBT students in schools. The resource, which is available on my Department’s website, includes a section that addresses the specific support needs of students who identify as transgender. The non-governmental organisation, Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) provided advice and support to ensure that this information is both practical and respectful to the needs of young people who are transgender.

The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) Wellbeing Team have also developed a number of resources in the area of Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in conjunction with representative groups. These resources, which are available at , include guidance for teachers, schools and guidance counsellors on their role in supporting LGBT students. PDST also offer a specific 1 day Seminar on Gender and Sexual Orientation. This seminar is for teachers of Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and RSE and explores the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people. Participants receive the ‘Growing Up LGBT’ resource and explore how to raise awareness through both the curriculum and at a whole school level.

In addition, inclusive education is a mandatory area of study in programmes of initial teacher education (ITE). The ITE graduate is required to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the factors that promote and hinder learning, the impact of pupils’ backgrounds and identities on learning and the need to provide for the holistic development of the learner, particularly through differentiated approaches.

My Department’s Inspectorate, as part of its whole-school evaluation inspections of schools, specifically examines schools compliance with the anti-bullying procedures including the actions taken to create a positive school culture and to prevent and tackle bullying. Where the Inspectorate encounter non-compliance with the anti-bullying procedures relevant findings are included in whole-school evaluation reports published on my Department’s website.