Dublin Schools awarded for LGBTQ+ inclusion

Clonturk Community College, Coláiste Dhúlaigh, Holy Child Community School, Kingswood Community College, Loreto Crumlin, Marino College, Mercy Collge Coolock, St. Benildus College, St. Paul’s Secondary School, Sutton Park School, and Wesley College in County Dublin are the first to be awarded the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark for their commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion.

The post-primary schools recently finished an 18-month journey embedding LGBTQ+ inclusion across their people, policies and practices.

The LGBTQ+ Quality Mark is run by Belong To, Ireland’s national LGBTQ+ youth organisation.

Students, teachers and principals from 37 schools came together to receive their award at a celebratory event at The Foundry, Google Headquarters in Dublin.

The LGBTQ+ Quality Mark initiative is a holistic approach to LGBTQ+ inclusion in post-primary schools that involves the whole school community.

Over the course of 18 months, schools are supported in implementing evidence-based actions across a number of key areas, which research shows improves the wellbeing and safety of LGBTQ+ students.

The LGBTQ+ Quality Mark was created with support from Google.org.

Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia remain a significant challenge for LGBTQ+ students.

In Ireland, 76% of LGBTQ+ second-level students feel unsafe at school. The schools involved in the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark have worked tirelessly to create an environment where all students feel safe and supported.

Speaking at the event, Jack Chambers (he/him), Minister of State and TD for Dublin West, said,

“I am delighted to join students, teachers and principals from schools across Ireland as they receive their LGBTQ+ Quality Mark today.

Belong To’s LGBTQ+ Quality Mark recognises the importance of schools being places where members of the LGBTQ+ community can feel safe and supported.

We know that a supportive school environment can have a hugely beneficial impact on the wellbeing and attainment of LGBTQ+ students.

Together, we need to address the anti-LGBTQ+ stigma and discrimination that remains prevalent in our society.

The Government is committed to ensuring the safety, equality and inclusion of all students, including our LGBTQ+ students, by creating safe, supportive and inclusive school environments for all.”

Mary Kelleher (she/her), Principal of Loretto Crumlin said:

“We in Loreto Crumlin have always tried to ensure that all our students feel safe and supported. We were very excited to be a part of the Quality mark process as it enabled us to develop this further and ensure that all educational partners- parents, staff, students and the local community were involved in the process of creating a more inclusive, supportive environment for all in Loreto Crumlin.

From a staff perspective, people feel more equipped now having done the training to support our LGBTQ students and as we go forward we are more aware of the need to reflect this in our school policies and planning.

Students have also had a very positive experience and we have set up our first LGBTQ and allies support club in the school run for the students by the students.

We in Loreto Crumlin see the value and the importance of such an award as it equips schools with the tools and resources needed to educate our school community about the challenges faced by our LGBTQ students while identifying and building on the good work already being done in the school.”

Derek Shaw (he/him), Q Mark Coordinator and Assistant Principal of Wesley College said:

“Wesley is proud to be an inclusive school where students have a strong sense of their own identity.

In joining the Q mark, we wanted to challenge ourselves and make sure that this guiding principle was being lived up to for our LGBTQ+ community. Our LGBTQ+ club is perhaps the most visible new sign of this alongside an ever growing school Pride week.

Adding to the lasting positive impact is the welcome awareness and frequent discussion of LGBTQ+ issues among and between staff and students, feeding into every aspect of school life.

This is why the Q mark is important, bringing every member of the school community further on this journey of inclusion and understanding.”

Speaking at the event Sorcha Lloyd (she/her), Q-Mark Coordinator from St. Benildus College said:

“Here in St. Benildus College we strive to provide an environment of acceptance and tolerance for all our students. We have been participating in Stand Up week since 2017 but when I heard about the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark, I felt passionately that this was something we needed to do.

We are always looking for ways to improve as a school, and I felt Belong To would be able to guide us in offering our LGBTQ+ students more support.

Since beginning the Q-Mark process, we have seen several changes and improvements within the school. Notably, we have set up a successful LGBTQ+ club called the GSA.

This club offers students a safe space to hang out and chat with friends every week.

We have always had a very supportive staff here in St. Benildus, but throughout the process of the Quality Mark we have noticed a marked improvement in student support.

I would really recommend the Q-Mark to any schools who have yet to sign up.”

Lisa Reid (she/her), Principal of Marino College said:

“The Q mark initiative is important because it is a visible communication of support to and for all within our school community.

It is a clear signal of unity and inclusion that aligns with our school ethos.”

Speaking at the event, Ben Condon (he/him), Q Mark Coordinator from Marino College said:

“As schools, the onus is on us to educate our young people about the diversity that exists within our society and how to learn, discuss, and engage with this diversity respectfully.

Every child has the right to feel safe and supported in their school.

It is vital that our LGBTQ+ young people are met with support, representative education, equality, and respect when in our care, so that they truly realise – no matter your gender identity or sexual orientation; who they are is enough, they matter, and they belong.”

Craig Maples (he/him), Q Mark Coordinator from Coolock Community College said:

“Given the diversity of our students and staff, we decided to join the Q Mark as we believe it is important that we do as must as possible to support those who are LGBTQ+ in our school community.

This turned out to be a great decision as we were able to develop our staff’s ability to assist students identifying as LGBTQ+, as well as ensuring that our school environment is LGBTQ+ friendly.

After joining the Q Mark, BelongTo lunchtime club was created and takes place weekly, a gender neutral bathroom was installed, and subject departments developed more inclusive schemes of work, among other things.

The work done by the Belong To team in the school has ultimately had a positive impact on the students because they are aware of our staff’s devotion to create both a safe and welcoming atmosphere.”

Emma O’ Beirne (she/her), Deputy Principal of Kingswood Community College said:

“We in Kingswood Community College are so proud to commit to inclusivity for everyone in our school.

Working with the Q Mark process, building on our Safe and Supportive Schools focus, we found this project both challenging and rewarding.

It allowed us to reflect on what we are doing well and ?work that still needs to be done.

Our ethos and mission statement embody the tenets of the Quality Mark and we are dedicated to improving the student experience to be as positive, welcoming and diverse as possible.

Our school has become a place of support, openness and empowerment while working for the Q Mark.

We strive to live this every day in KCC!”

Ronan Walsh, Head of Sutton Park School said:

“The Q Mark is important to us to show our commitment to an important group within our school community.

We always felt we were doing the right thing, but the Q Mark gave us the impetus to question this and to improve on aspects that needed to be enhanced.

The changes are now that we celebrate what I hope we were doing anyway, but also that there is less tip-toeing around things and a strong sense of embracing acknowledging and just “being”.

I think the students, especially the Allies, sense this.

The initiative has also been important to our staff who have a strong sense that this is a school that endorses and embraces all (be they staff or students) in an inclusive way.”

Sutton Park School L-R Yvonne Butler Emma Hughes Ella McCauley Ross Willis

Speaking at the event, Yvonne Butler, Q Mark Coordinator from Sutton Park School said:

“The Quality Mark is about honouring our essential humanity and giving values such as inclusion, trust, equality, kindness, compassion and love real meaning through our behaviour and actions.

Having the actions we take to cultivate a safe and supportive school?environment objectively and independently evaluated is a hugely important endorsement.”

Lauren Comer (she/her), Q Mark Coordinator from Mercy College Coolock said:

“The Quality Mark initiative is important because we live in an increasingly divided society.

The Quality Mark framework provides a structured and meaningful tool through which schools can address LGBTQ+ issues.

It opens the space for dialogue and provides a space for positive changes to occur.

It also allows schools the opportunity to acknowledge what they are doing well while highlighting areas that could be improved.”

Margaret O’Shea, Deputy Principal?of St Paul’s Secondary School said:

“We, in St Paul’s Secondary School, joined the Q Mark programme as the quality mark?aligns fully with our core values of Care, Inclusion and Respect.

Participating in the programme has been invaluable to beginning important conversations in our school and affording us the opportunity to reflect on how we ensure that everyone feels welcome and valued in our school community.

It has given us an excellent structure to ensuring that we are an LGBTQ+ safe and supportive school environment.

This is so important for student and staff wellbeing.

We are thrilled to receive the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark Award in recognition of our work over the past eighteen months and in celebration of our diverse school community.”

Moninne Griffith (she/her), CEO, Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland said:

“School can be a difficult place for LGBTQ+ students, but that does not have to be the case.

There are outstanding schools committed to creating safe and supportive spaces for LGBTQ+ students – including the 11 schools in Dublin.

The positive impact of inclusion and visibility allows students to live healthy lives and thrive at school.

Today is about celebrating these schools who have shown leadership and outstanding commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion through participation in the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark.

I want to thank the entire school community and, in particular, recognise the incredible efforts of the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark Coordinators and School Principals.

Thank you for showing up for LGBTQ+ students and for demonstrating commitment, courage and leadership.

Congratulations to these 11 schools for leading the way in Dublin and being one of the first schools in Ireland to receive the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark!”

Speaking at the event David Sneddon (he/him), Vice President, Google Ireland said, “Google Ireland and Google.org are immensely proud to support Belong To’s outstanding work on LGBTQ+ inclusion within Ireland’s education system.

With the support of a Google.org grant, Belong To’s LGBTQ+ Quality Mark initiative has empowered incredible schools across Ireland and demonstrates the far-reaching impact of placing inclusion at the core of education.

We congratulate this year’s ‘graduates’ and wish those currently taking part in the programme the best of luck.”