At Aberdeen Grammar School, young people were asked to identify areas that they felt required greater focus. They supplied a list of priorities which included addressing prejudice-based bullying.

They felt that it would be beneficial to explore protected characteristics in a more progressive way. It was agreed that this would be included as part of a review of discrimination and bullying.

What the school did

Young people and staff set up a short-term working group to lead the review. This included development of the Physical and Social Education (PSE) curriculum. They produced an overview of the curriculum for S1 to S6. They map the topics and content against the protected characteristics. This ensures breadth of coverage.

The Principal Teachers of Pupil Support (PTPS) reflected on the broader political and social context. They considered race equality developments. As a result they re-evaluated and updated their PSE curriculum.

All relevant experiences and outcomes were aligned to ensure that young people would benefit. The wider PTPS team planned thematic PSE lessons to ensure coherence between topics.

Interdisciplinary approach

An interdisciplinary approach allows young people to make better connections across their learning. The PTPS team also ensure a more progressive experience by building on prior learning.

It was important that young people felt that their PSE course captured the experiences of young people in Scotland. Staff worked to ensure that lessons contained meaningful, relevant, and up-to-date content.

The PSE curriculum now covers all strands of diversity, including sexuality and gender identity. It also addresses emerging national issues following the pandemic. These include online bullying and coercion.

The PSE course is also informed by any emerging trends of incidents of bullying. Any incident connected to a protected characteristic is followed up to ensure that it is appropriately resolved.

Young people also learn about when bullying can be deemed as criminal behaviour through their exploration of hate crime. The PSE course is now responsive to the needs of young people as well as wider contextual issues. For example, it includes the impact of online bullying through social media and online gaming platforms.     

The impact and what changed for young people

The revised curriculum ensures that young people have the language, understanding, and confidence to discuss prejudice and report prejudice-based bullying.

Analysis data and safeguarding questionnaires show declining trends and patterns of prejudiced-based bullying. School bullying procedures are shared, understood, and used by young people. They now have a good understanding of the impact of bullying. As a result, differences are accepted, and young people are valued.

The PSE programme is now more concept based. It explores wider themes of equality and inclusion as opposed to going through a series of set topics.

Young people have learned about the impact of language. This includes the casual use of racist, ablist, sexist or homophobic language. They know why it is damaging, and how to deal with it.