Inclusive school leadership is now crucial – expert
ARU’s Professor Lee is the co-editor of new book about LGBTQ+ education leaders
Professor Catherine Lee MBE of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) says the need for a strong understanding of LGBTQ+ issues within school leadership is “more important than ever”, as evolving national guidance around gender is placing equality and pupil wellbeing under renewed attention.
Alongside Daniel Burman, ARU’s LGBTQ+ Network lead and Senior Business Operations Manager for the Faculty of Science & Engineering, Professor Lee is a co-editor of a new book LGBTQ+ Leadership in Education: Visibility, Vision, and Voice, which will be published this month by Emerald.
The book brings together personal stories, insights and analysis to highlight how LGBTQ+ leaders at different stages of their careers are playing a key role in shaping education institutions through their courage, visibility and authenticity.
Professor Lee began her career as a teacher during the era of Section 28, the legislation that banned the “promotion” of same-sex relationships within schools. Her experiences in the late 1980s helped inspire the BBC film Blue Jean and in 2023 she was awarded an MBE for services to equality in education.
Professor Lee, Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences at ARU, said:
“Under Section 28, I learned that when support for LGBTQ+ young people is politicised, teachers avoid offering the support young people need. As a former teacher, I believe our role is to enable young people to flourish, not to limit who they can be.
“I want the new gender schools’ guidance to protect every pupil’s right to learn about themselves with dignity and respect. Therefore, strong leadership within schools to enable LGBTQ+ young people to thrive is more important than ever.”
The new book, published in paperback on Tuesday, 17 March, draws heavily on ARU’s pioneering LGBTQ+ Leaders in Higher Education programme, which was the first of its kind and continues to attract participants from across the UK.
Professor Lee added:
“Covering the UK education system from early years to higher education, LGBTQ+ Leadership in Education recognises the strength of queer networks and the power of advocacy. This is not simply a book about inclusion, it’s a call to lead differently, and to lead better.
“My research with aspiring school and university leaders has taught me that with tailored support, LGBTQ+ people often make excellent leaders, not despite what we have faced, but because of it.
“Many of us have had to read rooms carefully, build resilience early and lead with integrity long before we held formal authority. We know what exclusion feels like, so we understand the power of belonging. That perspective sharpens our judgement, deepens our empathy and strengthens our commitment to fairness.”
An online launch of LGBTQ+ Leadership in Education: Visibility, Vision, and Voice will take place on Wednesday, 18 March at 5pm. To register for the free event, visit https://forms.office.com/e/NkRbrrD7wu
An in-person event will be held at ARU’s Chelmsford campus on Tuesday, 2 June, the day before ARU’s LGBTQ+ education research conference. The book can be ordered at https://tinyurl.com/3ys8rb2e