Gender Equality Charter Mark (GECM) – School Application Form

We are looking for 3 secondary schools to pilot a Gender Equality Charter Mark (GECM) for secondary schools in England developed by a collaborative, EU-funded project with partners in Hungary and Italy.

The aim of the project is to create whole-school change in schools that will impact on young people’s expectations of gender roles and challenge gender stereotyping. The GECM will enable a school to measure progress in tackling the effects that gender stereotyping still has on pupils in relation to both subject (and career) choices and as a root cause of sexual harassment and gender-based violence in schools and wider society.

We are looking for schools that have different starting points in engagement with gender issues and have different locations and intakes.

If selected, you will be involved in a three-term trial of the GECM from September 2017 to July 2018.

Your school will need to

Commit to developing a whole-school approach to gender equality through the use of the GECM

Pilot and help further develop the Gender Equality Charter Mark (GECM) quality standard and accreditation tool

Act as a model of good practice for gender equality and tackling gender stereotyping through education

Provide a GECM Teacher Co-ordinator Communicate regularly with the GECM Project Worker and release the Teacher Co-ordinator

to meet with the Project Worker on the three support days. Agree and organise programmes for the Project Worker visits, engage in actions to promote

the GECM (e.g. auditing, discussing with colleagues, team meetings / trainings) equivalent to a minimum of 1 hour per week coordinator time commitment for the duration of the academic year)

Provide information and evidence to the GECM Project Worker for reporting Support base line and end of pilot year evaluation – administering questionnaires to a

representative sample of students, providing members of staff and students for focus group interviews.

What you get in return

The pilot Gender Equality Charter Mark (GECM) quality standard and accreditation tool, developed by a team of practising teachers and experts in the field of gender and education

Support from the GECM Project Worker, who will meet regularly with the school’s GECM Co-ordinator and provide guidance and support

Support to design a whole-school approach to gender equality Support (and delivery where appropriate) for relevant CPD Publicity for being part of a pilot national and international Gender Equality Charter Mark Opportunities to be involved in the dissemination of the GECM

PTO

Funded by the Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme of the European Union

Development Education Centre South Yorkshire

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Please fill in the form below (with additional pages if needed) and return to Helen Griffin (with your own and head teacher / senior manager’s signature) by 13th June 2017. We will let you know if you have been shortlisted for an informal interview by 19th June.

DECSY, Scotia Works, Leadmill Road, Sheffield, S1 4SE helen.griffin@decsy.org.uk Fax: 0114 2412752 www.decsy.org.uk

Key contact …………………………………………………..

School …………………………………………………………

Email ………………………………………………………..

Role ………………………………………………………..

Age range in school ………………………………………………….

Number of pupils ……………………………………………………

Percentage of Pupil Premium pupils …………………………….

1. Why is your school interested in taking part in the project?

2. In what ways has your school explored (or wish to explore) gender stereotypes or gender power relations among children and young people?

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3. Does your school have experience of charter marks or whole-school awards (give examples e.g. Geography Quality Mark, UNICEF Rights Respecting School Award, Stonewall LGBT Charter)?

4. Will your school be able to commit for the duration of the project (3 terms) as far as you know?

5. Will your school be able to appoint a GECM Teacher Co-ordinator? What makes this person suitable for the role?

6. How will this project be supported by senior leadership?

Signed (applicant) ……………………….. Date …………………….....

Signed (head teacher / manager) ……………………….. Date ……………………….

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