Education is the very best weapon we have in the fight against prejudicial, discriminatory and hateful attitudes towards LGBT people, educators must put the safety and well-being of children first, even if that means facing some unpalatable truths about their own practice.

I believe there needs to be a greater effort to attract LGBT people into teaching. We need to let LGBT people know they will be welcomed and supported in our wonderful profession and that they can be great role models for pupils.

Waking up at 3am on a Sunday morning to find a message from an ex-pupil congratulating me on entering the Independent on Sunday Pink List was an unexpected experience, as was reading that I was 'much nominated' and that pupils had voted for me.

My experiences lead me to believe that there are many parents and school staff who really want to see these issues addressed for once and for all. Some of them are indeed LGBT, but many of them are not.

This week, a journalist in a popular newspaper used the word 'gay' in a manner that reinforced negative connotations; yet again I was reminded me that there is still a long way to go in ending the use of the word gay as a pejorative term.

The fear that a child who is singled out for homophobic bullying feels has the potential to damage them for life. However fearful school leaders may be, the needs of the pupils in our care must take precedence over our own doubts, fears and beliefs.