Meet the Pride Group of ‘changemakers’ transforming their school’s culture

The Pride Group at Blue Coat School, a Church of England, mixed state school in Coventry, isn’t just changing LGBT+ pupils’ lives – it’s making positive, lasting change for their entire school.

For the last six years, Blue Coat’s pupil-led Pride Group has welcomed LGBT+ and ally pupils each Thursday, providing a safe space for them to connect with their peers, learn from each other and reduce loneliness. Shannon, the group’s Staff Champion, says the pupils “come together to explore key LGBTQ+ issues, share experiences, and build awareness of equality and inclusion within the school community”.

Members of the Pride Group describe the space as “a place where I know I’m going to be accepted”.

One pupil said: “It’s a safe space and sometimes you just need that when school is hard.”

Using Just Like Us’ resources to run a Pride Group that prioritises the power of community and having a safe space to be themselves cannot be overstated. In fact, 96% of teachers say that Just Like Us’ Pride Groups programme, which is now in 1 in 4 UK secondary schools, has improved young people’s wellbeing.

But for the pupils of Blue Coat’s Pride Group, their weekly meetings were just the beginning; they wanted to be “active changemakers”, reshaping their entire school community to be more inclusive.

Blue Coat’s Pride Group members are using their voices to make change

Staff Champion Shannon said: “Students are not only participants but active changemakers, shaping both awareness and practice within the school. The Pride Group empowers students to have a voice, take leadership, and actively contribute to a more inclusive school environment.”

Our Pride Group is not just a club, but a driving force for positive, lasting change within the school.

Members of the Pride Group have worked alongside the school’s PSHE lead to help plan a lesson on anti-LGBT+ bullying, ensuring that pupil voice is embedded in their teaching. They have provided guidance to staff on how to be more LGBT+ inclusive, helping teachers reflect on the language they use and make their classrooms the safest places they can be. Pupils have also planned school-wide activities for important events LGBT+ History Month, including creating informative posters displayed around the school and leading a Sixth Form assembly.

Shannon said: “On an individual level, the Pride Group provides a supportive environment where students feel seen, heard, and valued. For some, it has been a vital source of confidence and belonging; for others, an opportunity to become advocates and leaders. Together, these elements make our Pride Group not just a club, but a driving force for positive, lasting change within the school.”

Pupils’ confidence to make change has been supported by Just Like Us’ Student Leader training for pupils, equipping them with the skills to lead discussions and organise events themselves, helping the group to be “truly student-led and sustainable”.