When I was in primary school, “That’s so gay” used to echo around the playground as frequently as the dreaded cries of: “Tig, your it!” and “Bulldog!” For my peers and me, “gay” was a part of our vocabulary from a young age.Oblivious to its real meaning until secondary school, we used it freely and were never really, to my recollection, corrected by teachers.

Now as an adult and LGBT rights advocate, I am shocked by the way the school system has and still continues to fail its pupils. Although the above is a minor example of homophobic behavior, it is the most common form, with the latest Stonewall report finding that “99 per cent of gay young people hear the phrases ‘That’s so gay’ or ‘You’re so gay’ in school”. By allowing children to remain unchecked, teachers are failing to protect students in two key ways.

The first is the obvious protection of gay pupils. Hearing their sexuality used in such a negative way can not only be insulting, but damaging. Attaching perjorative connotations to a person’s sexuality suggests an abnormality, which for a young person already struggling with puberty and confusing new feelings can be very distressing.

The latest Stonewall report finds that “99 per cent of gay young people hear the phrases ‘That’s so gay’ or ‘You’re so gay’ in school”.

The second is the educating of pupils regarding different sexualities. Most present school curriculums promote tolerance and equality for different religious communities and races with Multicultural Week. However, this respect does not seem to extend to the LGBT community. By ignoring these groups, the current system leaves pupils in a state of ignorance, perpetuating mild homophobic sayings such as the one mentioned.

Unfortunately they aren’t always just mild insults. The Stonewall report discovered “one in six (16 per cent) of gay pupils experience physical abuse” while “Six per cent of lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils are subjected to death threats”.  The presence of homophobia in schools is very real, and although it has decreased since the last report in 2007, this decline is still not drastic enough.

In order to create a significant impact change is undoubtedly required, and with the general elections approaching some political parties have begun to focus more upon the issue of homophobic bullying. Shadow education secretary, Tristram Hunt has revealed Labour’s recent plans to tackle homophobic prejudices in schools. Recognizing the dangerous, lingering effects of Margaret Thatcher’s section 28 legislation (which banned the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools), Labour argues that teacher training is imperative in order to deal with this specific type of bullying.

The presence of homophobia in schools is very real, and although it has decreased since the last report in 2007, this decline is still not drastic enough.

As well as advocating a zero tolerance approach to homophobia, Hunt also suggests that curriculum-wise there should also be a focus upon same sex relationships. By starting sex education from an early age, pupils would gain an understanding that would not only demystify the topic of homosexuality and promote tolerance, but also encourage the practice of safe sex for both heterosexual and same sex couples.

I can’t help but agree with him. It may be a cliché, but children are the future and it is only through this sort of inclusion and focus upon education that schools will ever be able to tackle the endemic level of homosexual bullying in the UK. Although a simple action, changing perceptions in children now will change society’s perception of the LGBT community in the future, which can only be a good thing.

Sarah McCourt