here they are included” Tam Baillie (Education Scotland Speech 2012)

This essay will look at issues surrounding children’s human rights in an educational context, for the minority group known as LGBT(I). LGBTI stands for ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (born with atypical sex features)’. Although there is evidence regarding groups separately, namely issues surround LGB and Transgender and Intersex, much of the evidence pertains to all groups collectively as LGBT or LGBTI, and as such will be referred to throughout this essay in the stated context in relation to the evidence referred to.

In respecting the rights of all learners; they are entitlement to be included in decisions regarding their learning experiences; and have all aspects of their well-being developed and supported, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). For Scotland to be seen as the ‘best place to grow up in’ there needs to be a culture that is positive towards children, where they feel nurtured and welcomed, where they are listened too, their needs are recognised and acted upon, and they are respected and protected, at every age, and be allowed to fulfil their true potential. Scottish Government UNCRC: The foundation of GIRFEC. The GTCS standards state that teachers are committed ‘to the principles of democracy and social justice through fair, transparent, inclusive and sustainable policies and practices in relation to: age, disability, gender and gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion and belief and sexual orientation’ (pg5).
Health and well-being is at the forefront of Curriculum for Excellence which aims to ensure mental, physical and social well-being for all learners (Scottish Government 2017). This is a key feature in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2014, whereby children’s rights were matched with their health and wellbeing and thereby putting the Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) policy on a legal traction (I’Anson 2018). GIRFEC is multi profession approach of health, education, social care and voluntary organisations, that sets the stage for achieving a positive culture for the children of Scotland by valuing the rights of children set out in the UNCRC (Scottish Government 2013b). GIRFEC classifies eight inter-connected indicators of Well-being for children using the acronym SHANARRI; safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included. By using these indicators the practice model aims to achieve the best possible outcome for children at the same time as respecting their rights (S