Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity & Inclusion We visited Eton College as part of LGBTQ+ History Month

It was excellent to take part in LGBTQ+ History Month online symposium hosted by Eton College. Along with other schools, including Radley, Wycombe Abbey and RGS Guildford, students from PGS discussed three questions in break out rooms: 1. Do you feel that you have seen progress in the life of an LGBTQ student during your lifetime? 2. Do you think that some letters in LGBTQ+ get more attention than others? If yes, then how so? 3. At school, where does homophobia and transphobia originate from? e.g. ignorance? peer pressure? personal issues? religious beliefs?

PGS pupils were at the forefront of their respective groups and proved thoughtful and articulate ambassadors for the school, as well as the LGBTQ+ community.

It is difficult to summarise two hours of debate but, in general attendees felt that there has been real progress during their lifetimes, highlighted by the fact that, due to Section 28, such an event would have been illegal 20 years ago. It was strongly felt that the ‘B’, ‘T’, ‘Q’ and the ‘+’ were the least understood and represented members of the community, and that much more work needed to be done to further education in these areas. Finally, and hopefully, attendees felt that prejudice seemed to originate mainly from younger years in schools and was a product of ignorance and immaturity rather than hatred.

Students were effusive in their praise for the event and greatly valued the experience of talking to others. In the words of PGS Year 13 pupil Lucy Albuery, ‘I think it's really nice to connect with other people who are doing what we are doing. It's good to remember that the issues are larger than PGS but also that the solution and the people working to solve them is much bigger than us too. I will definitely be in Mrs. Morgan's office in the next few weeks with a few ideas!’

Mr Dan Frampton