How The Senior Leadership Team Can Support an Inclusive LGBTIQ+ Culture In Maltese Church Secondary Schools: Students’ Perspectives
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62695/KUXF1744Keywords:
Senior Leadership Team, Inclusion, LGBTIQ+, Church, SchoolsAbstract
Social justice and equity are vital measures that fall under the responsibilities of the Senior Leadership Team. These are the underpinning values of inclusive education. Leadership is to bring about a sense of empowerment to the individuals who form part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex and Queer community, a minority group, where one’s contribution is valued. This creates a safe learning environment where a zero tolerance to harassment, bullying and discrimination is endorsed by policies which are communicated and adhered to by all stakeholders. The beliefs of the Catholic Church’s teachings are espoused with a mission and ethos to serve everyone, which serves as a moral guidance for the leadership of a church school. This research sheds light on the current situation of how the Senior Leadership Team supports an inclusive Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex and Queer culture in church secondary schools in Malta, analysed through the student participants’ voices. The study adopted a qualitative approach, where the data was presented in alignment with the research questions, then analysed to draw up recommendations to enhance and reaffirm the pivotal role of the Senior Leadership Team, with the necessary support to embed an inclusive Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex and Queer culture that permeates the school.
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