Rosie Bush
2025年10月23日
上午9:00
Session summary
In 2019, our school transitioned from hosting occasional LGBTQIA+ events to establishing a weekly Pride Club, designed to create a safe space. The club quickly grew, empowering students aged 11-18 and fostering a more inclusive environment across the school. Today, we see a profound transformation in how our school and community approach diversity, inclusion, and LGBTQIA+ identities. Inspired by a village primary school, we pursued the Rainbow Flag Award. This initiative helped us embrace the LGBTQIA+ community and integrate it into the school’s identity. Our presentation, led by Pride Club members, will explore the club's growth and far-reaching impact, emphasising the importance of allyship, role models, and empowerment in rural areas. At the core of our Pride Clubs development has been a commitment to creating a space where all students regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity feel seen, heard, and valued. With help from BOOST and LGBTQIA+ role models, we havtheir authentic selves. These friends have shown our students that they can thrive and succeed, inspiring them to live openly and proudly in their communities.As Pride Club expanded, we realised that promoting inclusivity is about more than providing a safe space for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Its about building a community of allies. Over time, students from all backgrounds have joined the club, participating in initiatives that support the LGBTQIA+ community. Whether through hosting events or encouraging positive classroom discussions, allies have played a key role in promoting equity within our school and rural area. Though challenges remain in promoting LGBTQIA+ visibility and acceptance in our rural setting, the resilience of our students and staff has kept us moving forward. Empowerment comes through education, dialogue, and perseverance, and we believe that supporting young people in rural areas makes a lasting difference in their lives.
Biography
Rosie is the Lead Practitioner for Community, Culture, and Heritage at The Duchess Community High School, where she teaches English and Classical Civilisations. The school is in rural Northumberland and it serves a geographical catchment larger than Greater London, with many students travelling for more than an hour each way. Rosie founded the school’s Pride Club in 2019 in order to support young people who couldn't access other services easily, either because of geographical, domestic or social reasons. The club has now become a flagship LGBTQIA+ initiative in the region’s schools. In addition, Rosie serves as a Trustee for BOOST, a charity that supports children by facilitating enrichment opportunities and removing barriers to learning. BOOST has been key in helping the club to flourish, and some of our Pride Club students now work closely with the charity. The young people co-presenting are members of Pride Club, aged between 12 and 18. Some of our students identify as LGBTQIA+ and others are a wider BOOST team that works closely to support Pride Club.
