Hawick High School
Main Office: 01450 372429 Email: hhs@scotborders.gov.uk
Main Office: 01450 372429 Email: hhs@scotborders.gov.uk
At Hawick High School this year, we have newly established the Diversity and Equality lunchtime club as an S6 committee, appointing S6 Students Emma Rooney as Chairperson, and Charlie McCaig and Niamh Casson as Vice Chairpersons.
The committee have been working hard to provide staff and students with access to support resources and tools which aim to make Hawick High School a more inclusive place for all. Students have been spearheading the campaign of Equality for All at Hawick High School, and in February have delivered awareness presentations to each year group as part of school assemblies.
Hawick High School is working on progressing towards achieving the LGBT Youth Scotland Charter for Education, with aims of securing the Bronze Charter by Summer 2024. Have a look below at some of initiatives which have been led by students this year!
As we entered February, we welcomed the beginning of LGBT History Month, the 30th anniversary of this global event. We celebrated the successes of LGBT figures in society- the focus of 2024 on the field of Medicine.
As a mark of equality and respect of all, staff and senior students have come together to take a pledge of inclusion, aspiring to make sure Hawick High School is forever a safe environment for all young people, some of which whom may become future pioneers of LGBT History Month.
The flag has been shared across the school community and is pictured above with Diversity and Equality Committee Chairperson Emma Rooney, Vice Chairpersons Charlie McCaig and Niamh Casson, and Headteacher Mrs Scott. The flag will now be on permanent display in our school.
Our S6 Diversity and Equality Committee work hard to provide young people and staff with support resources from LGBT Youth Scotland, and have planned a Bake Sale on Friday 23rd of February in which any moneys raised will be donated to the charity. Friday 23rd of February will also be ‘Wear it Purple Friday’ – a national event where young people can opt to wear purple to school to stand in respect of the LGBT community.
As part of the national ‘Wear it Purple’ campaign, S6 students developed educational resources and independently presented all year groups with educational assemblies, focusing in on defeating the negative stigma surround coming out. The work was developed by students for students, and younger members of the school were extremely receptive to the information they were provided with. As part of the campaign, students could show their support and raise awareness of equality by wearing purple to school on the 23rd of March, and alongside this the committee hosted a bake sale for students. All funds raised were donated to LGBT Youth Scotland, and students raised enough money from the bake sale to fund two counselling sessions for young people who need additional support with coming out to their families.
Hawick High School is past the halfway point in progressing towards Achieving the Bronze Charter for Education, and the S6 Diversity and Equality committee will graduate in June leaving a permanent positive mark of change within Hawick High School. Once the Bronze Charter has been achieved, the next step is to progress towards the Silver level!
If you require any support as a pupil or a parent, LGBT Youth Scotland can provide resources and help information at : https://lgbtyouth.org.uk/
