Exceeding Expectations Theatre in Education

Quotes from Manchester School Children 2006/2007

“If you called someone a racist name you’d get done for being racist…But no one gets done if they call someone gay….But with racism you get like excluded and stuff”.

“If a teacher hears you call someone gay they wouldn’t do anything about it…. And if they did everyone would get in trouble…Because everyone says it.”

“I was attacked by six pupils in the changing room, where I was thrown into the showers and beaten up and just left there…the teachers didn’t do anything about it, because it wasn’t in the school policy thing.”

“That’s when the beating started …I was stood in a queue for dinners and somebody just put a compass in my arm, and slashed me across the arm – no one did anything.”

“There was a lot of name-calling at school…which is why I started bunking off school…I was going to be a teacher, go to college, do teacher-training…but I didn’t do well in my GCSEs…the bullying made me stay away.”

“Teachers have got to be stricter…we are the same as anyone else…but we are allowed to be bullied for it – in somewhere where we are supposed to feel safe.”

“I found it extremely hard to tell teachers it was homophobic bullying… it was so hard, you know, I was just this little 13 year old girl who was confused.” “Something should happen, something should stop all this.”

“Fine, have your opinions, just don’t voice them in a place where I come to learn.”

“One of the biggest issues is people don’t know where to go for help… …Schools need to tell people where to go…like in my school there was this Nurses office, buried away in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the school and you only ever go in there in emergencies and right at the back there were leaflets saying Report Racism and Don’t take drugs and at the back there was this tiny piece of paper with stuff about being gay…you had to squint to read it…there should be a big sign saying You are not alone, there are people there to help you…you don’t have to go through any of this on your own.”

With thanks to Adam Zane & Hope Theatre Company. And from school staff…

“The performance is an effective way of dealing with a sensitive issue. Students' opinions and beliefs were challenged in an enjoyable way" Sara Rowland, PSHE Teacher, Newall Green High School.

“Please pass on my thanks to the group. My staff are full of praise and those that missed out have asked me if the group can come back into school. I believe the girls were also positive. Thank you very much indeed. When can we have them back in school?”Jean Rose, Head of PSHE at North Manchester High School for Girls.

“I am a school-based nurse in a local high school and am looking at ways of supporting LGB young people in the school. Would it be possible to have some printed resources and any other material you feel would be helpful to promote awareness and hopefully reduce feelings of isolation" Susan M Baines, School Nurse, Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammer School.

What impact has Exceeding Expectations had on the school environment?

“Raised the profile of the initiative and placed it on the staff’s informal agenda.”

“Staff are more aware of the issues and legal obligations.”

“Improved knowledge for the teachers’ discussion in the staff room.”

“The newsletter offered valuable information.”

“Greater Awareness.”