Physical Environment
How does your school use the physical environment to promote gender equality?
Initial Steps
- How can you address gender (conscious and unconscious) bias in the school’s physical environment? To start with, try to encourage discussions of what GE means in terms of equal access to the physical environment and links to guidance on how to design spaces.
- You could encourage staff to discuss and identify gender-biased physical environment, seeking examples of good practice.
- Ask students to share their perceptions and feelings regarding GE in all areas of the school. Do they feel particularly safe or uncomfortable in some places?
Call to action
Do you have any positive examples of how your school or other schools use the physical environment to address Gender Equality issues?
Do your students use the physical space in a gender-inclusive way?
Please share your ideas, results and any good examples.

Curriculum Links
Dream School Environment
Design, Physical Environment
Target age group10-18
Gender equality concepts
Inclusive school environment, accessibility, gender diversity
This Lesson Plan gets pupils to look at the school environment in terms of equality and inclusivity and asks them to design their dream school environment where everyone can feel good and happy.
How safe do pupils feel in your school environment?
Physical Environment
Target age group5-18
Gender equality concepts
safety – a safe environment (physically and mentally) – heat map
Ideas into Action
Digital platform “500 Queer Scientists”
Attitudes & Relationships, Communities, Curriculum, Leadership, Physical Environment
Target age groupPrimary/Secondary Education
Type of materialWebsite
UK Primary School Case Study
Attitudes & Relationships, Physical Environment
Target age groupPrimary 3-11
Type of materialText – account of school practice
Youth in Action for Equality (Vocational School for Commerce and Trade Bjelovar)
Attitudes & Relationships, CM Development, Content, Curriculum, Extra-curricular, Gender-based violence, Hidden curriculum, Language & communication, Leadership, Peer socialisation, Physical Environment
Type of materialText, video, photo story