What Schools OUT does

Schools OUT UK is a registered charity (Charity No: 1156352) founded in November 1974 by Sue Sanders and Paul Patrick to make schools safe and inclusive for LGBT+ people and to 'educateOUTprejudice'. The organisation is headquartered in London, operates entirely on volunteer labour, and serves UK education settings (schools, colleges, youth groups), educators, businesses, public sector organisations, and the general public. Its core programmes are UK LGBT+ History Month (annual February celebration founded in 2004/2005 with annual themes such as 'Activism and Social Change' for 2025 and 'Science and Innovation' for 2026), The Classroom (a free Key Stages 1-5 curriculum resources website launched in 2007), OUTing the Past (a biennial international LGBT+ history festival launched in 2012), and OUTreach (paid speaking engagements, workshops, webinars, and conference sessions).

The technology stack is minimal and non-proprietary: a WordPress-based website at lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk serves as the content hub and e-commerce shop, while the-classroom.org.uk distributes free PDF resources globally. There is no software platform, API, or mobile application. Distribution combines direct booking for paid presentations, an invoice-based bulk-order system for badges and lanyards, downloadable free resources, and event participation across five Pride events plus education conferences.

Revenue is generated through four streams: donations via PayPal, low-ticket merchandise (badges £1.25–£3.00, lanyards £3.00), paid speaking engagements and workshops tiered by audience (£50 for youth groups up to £2,000 plus transport for in-person Sue Sanders bookings), and book sales (£12–£24.99 per title, £44.99 for bundles). No revenue figures are publicly disclosed and the organisation has no institutional funding rounds, parent company, or subsidiaries.

Name

Schools OUT

Legal name

Schools OUT UK

Website

https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schools OUT UK is a volunteer-run registered charity that delivers LGBT+ inclusive education through UK LGBT+ History Month, The Classroom curriculum resources, the OUTing the Past festival, and paid speaking engagements for schools, educators, businesses, and the public sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization accepts donations via PayPal to support their charitable activities.
2. Badge and Merchandise Sales: Schools OUT sells pin badges, lanyards, and other merchandise through their shop, including annual themed badges for LGBT+ History Month.
3. Speaking Engagements and Workshops: Revenue generated from presentations for schools, youth groups, educators, businesses, and public sector organizations at varying price points.
4. Book Sales: Sale of educational books and resources including The Diversity & Inclusion Glossary, Transitions: The Unheard Stories, and Pop 'n' Olly Book Bundle.
5. Bulk Orders: Organizations can place bulk orders for badges and lanyards with tiered pricing based on quantity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Schools OUT is a UK-registered LGBT+ education charity that provides free curriculum resources, themed educational materials, speaking engagements, and workshops to schools, educators, businesses, and public sector organizations. Its core offerings center on UK LGBT+ History Month (annual February celebration), OUTing the Past (biennial history festival), The Classroom (free Key Stage 1-5 resources), and OUTreach (workshops and presentations), supplemented by merchandise sales and donations.

Product overview

Schools OUT is an LGBT+ education charity founded in 1974 (Charity No: 1156352) that operates primarily as an advocacy and education organisation rather than a technology product company. Its core offerings include UK LGBT+ History Month (annual February celebration with themed resources), OUTing the Past (biennial international history festival), The Classroom (free education resources website for key stages 1-5), OUTreach (speaking engagements and workshops), and merchandise (badges, lanyards). The organisation also runs Poetry Competition and Badge Competition programs. Additional products include curriculum posters, fact sheets, and books sold through the shop. The portfolio centres on educational advocacy and resource distribution rather than software products or platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UK LGBT+ History Month: Annual celebration of LGBT+ history in February with themed resources, historical figure spotlights, and educational materials for schools and organizations.
• The Classroom
• OUTing the Past

Products and services

• UK LGBT+ History Month Annual celebration held every February to promote visibility of LGBT+ history, herstory, and theirstory in education settings, organisations, and businesses. Includes themed resources, badges, fact sheets, and educational materials with a yearly theme (e.g., 2026 'Science and Innovation', 2025 'Activism and Social Change').
• OUTing the Past The International Festival of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans History, held biennially from 1st February to 16th March. Connects researchers, archivists, historians, and history buffs with museums, archives, and libraries across the UK and beyond to present LGBT+ History events virtually and in person.
• The Classroom Free education resources website for Key Stages 1-5 (ages 5-19) enabling educators to embed LGBT+ inclusive lessons and history throughout the curriculum. Introduces the 'whole school' approach and the concepts of 'Usualising' and 'Visibilising'.
• OUTreach Speaking engagements at education conferences, sessions for education unions, articles, academic papers, book forewords, and research. Includes free webinars about LGBT+ history for the public and workshops for businesses and organisations on LGBT+ inclusive education, with tiered pricing for different audience types.
• Pin Badges Annual themed pin badges celebrating LGBT+ History Month. Designs include yearly themes such as 'Under the Scope' (2024), 'Behind the Lens' (2023), 'Science and Innovation' (2026), and 'Activism and Social Change' (2025). Priced at £2.50-£3.00 per unit.
• Rainbow Lanyard Rainbow lanyards sold for £3.00 per unit, supporting LGBT+ visibility in education and workplace settings.
• Bulk Orders Bulk ordering service for badges and lanyards with tiered volume pricing (250-500 units at £2.50, 501-1,000 at £2.25, 1,001-3,000 at £2.00, 3,001-5,000 at £1.50, 5,001-10,000 at £1.25). Includes invoice capability for organisations.
• Curriculum Posters Free downloadable PDF posters featuring LGBT+ historical figures across curriculum subject areas including Art, Dance, Food, History, PE, Textiles, Business Studies, Design and Technology, Languages, Religious Education, ICT, Engineering, Maths, Drama, Geography, Computing, English, Music, and Science.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The British LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2020Schools OUT launched LGBT+ History Month 2021 digitally in conjunction with The British Library on November 6, 2020. The launch event was produced in partnership and made available on their YouTube channel.
• International Committee on LGBTQ+ History MonthscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchools OUT helped found this international committee which encourages other countries to set up LGBT+ History Months, extending their influence globally.
• York LGBT History MonthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYork LGBT History Month produced curriculum subject area identity posters with support from Schools OUT UK and copyright advice from Simmons & Simmons.
• Pride in LondonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSchools OUT participates in Pride in London, showcasing inclusive education and LGBT+ History at the event.
• Student PrideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSchools OUT takes part in Student Pride events to reach student audiences with inclusive education messaging.
• Para PrideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSchools OUT participates in Para Pride events, showcasing inclusive education for disability and LGBT+ communities.
• UK Black PrideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSchools OUT participates in UK Black Pride to engage with Black LGBT+ communities on inclusive education.
• Bi Pride UKminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSchools OUT participates in Bi Pride UK events to promote bisexual inclusion in education.
• Diversity Role ModelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchools OUT works with Diversity Role Models, an organization that embeds inclusion and empathy in education. Lynne Nicholls works for both organizations.
• The Proud TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchools OUT collaborates with The Proud Trust on LGBT+ History Month education packs and youth resources.
• Simmons & SimmonsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaw firm provided copyright advice for curriculum resources produced by Schools OUT.
• BBC SportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBBC Sport supported LGBT+ History Month for the first time, featuring Lily Parr on Football Focus.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• The Trevor Project: Leading US LGBT+ youth organization focused on crisis intervention and suicide prevention, with adjacent school and educator resources. Thematically connected (LGBT+ youth wellbeing) but distinct service model from Schools OUT's education and history mission.
• InterPride: International organization coordinating Pride events worldwide, including collaboration with Schools OUT on Pride in London, Student Pride, Para Pride, UK Black Pride, and Bi Pride UK. Ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• PFLAG: Long-established international LGBT+ family and ally organization with education advocacy and school-facing programmes; broader, family-centric mission but operates in adjacent LGBT+ education space.
• GLSEN: US-based K–12 education organization advancing safe, inclusive schools for LGBT+ students through curriculum resources, educator training, and student programs — directly analogous K–12 inclusive education mission but operating primarily in the US market.
• Stonewall: The UK's largest LGBT+ rights organization, operating broadly across rights, workplace inclusion, and education (including schools resources). Much larger and broader in scope than Schools OUT but overlaps heavily in school-based LGBT+ inclusion work.

Direct peers

• Just Like Us: UK LGBT+ young people's charity that delivers school programmes, ambassador networks, and educator resources to make schools more inclusive — directly comparable to Schools OUT's classroom-based mission and UK K–12 target audience.
• Diversity Role Models: UK charity embedding LGBT+ inclusion and empathy in school settings through workshops and student mentoring. Listed as a core strategic partner of Schools OUT (Chair Lynne Nicholls works for both), with directly overlapping UK K–12 inclusive education mission.
• The Proud Trust: UK LGBT+ youth charity producing resources, youth groups, and education packs. Listed as a core strategic partner of Schools OUT on LGBT+ History Month education packs and youth resources, with overlapping youth-education mission.
• Educate & Celebrate: UK charity focused specifically on LGBT+ inclusive curriculum and whole-school approach in education settings. Closest mission overlap with Schools OUT's 'whole school approach' and 'Usualising' framework.

Emerging players

• Mermaids: UK charity supporting gender-diverse children, young people, and their families, with significant school-facing education work. Comparable in sector (UK LGBT+ education/advocacy) but narrower focus on trans and gender-diverse youth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCT4nBN8y9zvWmW0kqZrSthQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/LGBTHistoryMonth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schools-out-uk-1974
• Instagraminstagram.com/lgbthistorymonth
• Xx.com/LGBTHM

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schools OUT