Pride & Progress

Season 3, Episode 12 This week we have assembled an incredible panel of guests to discuss the topic of 'queering leadership'. Our panel is made up of four inspirational leaders from different sectors of education: David Weston (he/him) from the charity sector, Alex Baird (they/them) from HE, Richard McDonald (he/him) from secondary, and Holly Coull (she/her) from primary. In this episode,...

Season 3, Episode 11 In this conversation, we are joined by the brilliant Abena Akuffo-Kelly (she/her).Abena wears many hats, but she joins us in this conversation as an educator, speaker, union activist, mentor and coach. We first met Abena when we saw her deliver a session on exploring Unconscious Bias. The session was fantastic, and we wanted to bring it to our audience through this episode. In...

Season 3, Episode 10 This week we speak with the brilliant Klaudia Matasovska (she/her).Klaudia is a PhD researcher at Goldsmiths University of London and an Associate Lecturer at the University of Derby, and she joins us in this episode to discuss the intersection of LGBT+ and SEND. Klaudia shares with us fascinating and important findings from her research, as well as advice and good practice fo...

Season 3, Episode 9 This week we bring you a special panel episode discussing LGBT+ parents and families. Our panel is made up of three brilliant educators, all of whom are LGBT+ parents. Join us to explore the challenges and joys of LGBT+ families with Bennie Kara (she/her - @BennieKara), Peter Jardine-Wight (he/him - @WightPJ), and Claire Neaves (she/her - @ClaireNeaves). We love to hear your fe...

Season 3, Episode 8 This week we celebrate the launch of our book 'Pride & Progress: Making Schools LGBT+ Inclusive Spaces'!In this special episode, we welcome back the third member of Pride & Progress, George White (he/him), who interviews us about the book, and then later in the episode, we go to the in-person book launch held in Nottingham earlier this week. You will hear the br...

Season 3, Episode 7 This week we speak with Olly Pike (he/him). Olly is is the Director of Pop'n'Olly - an LGBT+ edutainment resource for children, parents, carers and teachers. Olly's videos and books are being used in homes and primary schools across the UK and beyond to help combat homophobia and transphobia before it can begin to develop. In this episode we discuss Olly's stori...

Season 3, Episode 6 This week we speak with the wonderful Shivani Dave (they/them). Shivani is a non-binary journalist, broadcaster, and physicist. Shivani began their media career at the BBC, and while working for Radio 4, began producing an independent passion project called The Log Books, sharing the untold stories of British queer history. They specialise in telling stories with the communitie...

Season 3, Episode 5 This week we talk to the sensational Divina de Campo! Divina (he/she/they) is an actor, singer, performer, drag artist, and a member of Drag Race royalty. Divina joins us to talk about her experience of education, as both a student and teacher, all while looking fabulous in her sparkly pig banker jumper (check our socials to see a picture!). You can follow Divina on Twitter at...

Season 3, Episode 4 This week we are joined by Sab Samuel, who is better known as Aida H Dee: The Storytime Drag Queen, and founder of Drag Queen Story Hour UK. Aida H Dee is an ADHD, neurodivergent, queer hero of literature, theatre, and children's entertainment. They join us in this episode to talk about the work they do with Drag Queen Story Hour UK, and the value it has for young people. T...

Season 3, Episode 3 This week we speak with the brilliant Ian Timbrell (he/him) about LGBT+ inclusive relationships and sex education. Ian shares great advice about how to plan your curriculums, which topics should be discussed at which age, and how to navigate difficult conversations. A must listen for anyone who teaches RSE! We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode a...

Season 3, Episode 2 This week we bring you a special panel episode discussing LGBT+ inclusive sport and PE. Our brilliant panel is made up of a range of LGBT+ athletes and educators, each who bring a unique perspective to the topic. Our four superb guests are Alex Baird (they/them - @AlexBaird12), Jake Williamson (he/him - @jakewilliamson4), Martha Riggs (she/her - @MarthaRiggs4), and Michael C. W...

Season 3, Episode 1 It is LGBT+ History Month and we are joined by Molly and Sophie from The Proud Trust to explore why this month matters, and how their resources can help teachers during this month. The Proud Trust are a Manchester based charity described as ‘The Home of LGBT+ Youth’. They are a life changing charity who provide education, support, and advocacy for LGBT+ young people and their c...

Season 2, Episode 15 We were invited to join the NEU's LGBT+ Educators' Conference in Bristol. The theme for the conference this year was 'Defending our Community'. In this episode we capture the conference by speaking with organisers, guests, and stall holders about the importance of creating these safer spaces, and what lessons they'll be taking home with them from the confer...

Season 2, Episode 13 In our final episode of the series, we are joined by the formidable Peter Tatchell (He/him). Peter has dedicated his life to campaigning for human rights and has been involved in activism for over 50 years. In this episode we discuss his fascinating life and career which is featured in the Netflix documentary Hating Peter Tatchell (https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81422831).Yo...

Season 2, Episode 13 This week we are joined by the fascinating Paul Baker (he/him). Paul is Professor of English Language at Lancaster University. He has written 22 books on language, sexuality and social history - covering topics that include Section 28, Polari, gay men in the merchant navy, and newspaper coverage of LGBTQ+ people.  In this conversation we talk about the importance of connecting...

Season 2, Episode 12 This week we are joined by the ray of sunshine that is Nick Kitchener-Bentley (he/him). Nick is a wonderfully positive and encouraging voice in education and among his many roles is a secondary school Lead Practitioner and teacher of Drama, Inclusion & English. Nick is also the Drama subject specific lead tutor for Coventry University’s National Institute of Teaching and E...

Season 2, Episode 11 This week we are joined by an incredible headteacher, writer, and thinker, David Lowbridge-Ellis! David uses he/they pronouns and is an inspirational headteacher, and the Director of School Improvement for Matrix Academy Trust in the West Midlands. He has written and spoken extensively on many aspects of education, especially curriculum and assessment. Inclusion is a recurring...

Season 2, Episode 10 This week we are joined by an incredible educator, researcher and activist, Charlotte Feather! Charlotte uses she/her pronouns and is the founder of the LGBTQ Primary Hub: a website which aims to enhance the delivery of LGBTQ+ inclusive education in primary schools by providing teachers with the support they need.  Charlotte has just completed her Masters, with research focusi...

Season 2, Episode 9 This week we are delighted to speak to the wonderful Fisayo Akinade (he/him). Fisayo is a brilliant actor of both screen and stage, and plays the teacher we all wish we could have had at school, Heartstopper's Mr Ajayi! Fisayo joins us to talk about his acting career, dancing with Olivia Coleman and, of course, all things Heartstopper! We hope you enjoy this episode as much...

Season 2, Episode 8 This week we have assembled some special friends of the show to discuss what has been consuming all of our lives for the last week - the new Netflix series Heartstopper. Heartstopper is a British coming-of-age story of queer romance based on the graphic novels of the same name by the brilliant Alice Oseman. The story follows a group of queer young people as they navigate fallin...

Season 2, Episode 7 This week we speak with the brilliant Daniel Tomlinson-Gray (he/him). Daniel is a secondary teacher and co-founder and director of the fantastic LGBTed (https://outteacher.org). In this episode we discuss the origins of LGBTed, the amazing work they do through their Proud Leadership programme, and the inspiring book, edited by Daniel: Big Gay Adventures in Education: Supporting...

Season 2, Episode 6 This week we are joined by the incredible Professor Catherine Lee (she/her). Catherine trained as a PE teacher before stepping into academia at Anglia Ruskin University. In this episode Catherine shares her personal experience of educating through Section 28, and how she has moved from that experience to set up the Courageous Leaders programme designed to support LGBTQ+ leaders...

Season 2, Episode 5 This week we are joined by the inspirational Bennie Kara (she/her). In this packed episode, we discuss Bennie's journey from Teach First all the way to senior leadership, how her intersectional identity led to the birth of Diverse Educators, and the success of her fantastic book, Diversity in Schools (available here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/a-little-guide-for-teach...

Season 2, Episode 4 This week we speak with two brilliant LGBTQ+ role models: Edel Cronin (she/her) & Aaron Brooks (he/him). In their school in Bristol, Edel and Aaron run a LGBTQ+ club for students which has grown to change the attitudes of their entire school.  In this episode, Edel and Aaron share practical tips on LGBTQ+ clubs in school, queer inclusive curriculum, and LGBTQ+ leadership. T...

Season 2, Episode 3 This week we speak with the inspiring educator Shaun Dellenty (he/him). Shaun is a multi-award-winning teacher, LGBT+ inclusion advocate, trainer, inspirational speaker and author who has been named one of the most 100 influential LGBT+ people in the U.K. Shaun was honoured at the National Diversity Awards and by the U.K. Prime Minister for services to education and LGBT+ commu...