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This paper outlines research that was conducted among students, parents, teachers and senior management teams in five high schools in the Greater Dublin area of Ireland. The research involved semi-structured interviews and observations. The findings of this research are significant in that it was the first time any data was gathered on this topic directly from those within the school system. Overall, the qualitative nature of the data allowed us to obtain an insight into how students, parents, teachers and senior management teams understand and experience homophobic bullying in their schools. The data from this study shows that the impact of not having a mainstream approach to sexual orientation within schools results in fear, negative stereotypes, and worse still discriminatory and bullying behaviour.

The aim of this paper is to provide evidence-based guidance for educational practitioners and, in particular, for those in leadership positions in schools, on good practice in developing and implementing school level strategies and actions to promote an appreciation of diversity in schools and society. IntroductionThe focus of the paper will be on a school level action that was developed and managed in response to homophobia. This school level action was drawn from a case study conducted in a comprehensive co-educational school in the Republic of Ireland. Of particular importance in this case study is the fact that the school's chaplain took the initiative in trying to address homophobia among the students. As a religious minister she was in fact trying to mediate between the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church and the assumed values of society where sexuality is concerned and, in doing so, she hoped to move her students and her school to a new reality that reflected a greater appreciation of diversity in relation to sexuality. We will begin by briefly examining the phenomenon of bullying in schools and more specifically the effects of homophobic bullying on young people. We will also briefly outline the challenge presented by the conflict between the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church on homosexuality and the emerging equality legislation which pertains to the school in this case study.