BRIGHTON College will make history this summer when it becomes the first private school to take part in a Pride parade anywhere in the country.

Pupils from the highest performing co-educational school in the country will join the colourful Brighton Pride community parade on Saturday, August 5.

The school’s youngsters were inspired to get involved in the annual celebration after a talk by Oscar-nominated actor and gay rights activist Sir Ian McKellen.

They will join more than 100 companies, charities, community groups and public services taking part in what will be one of the biggest Pride parades the city has ever seen.

The parade, now sponsored by Gatwick, is one of the highlights of the traditional Pride weekend, kicking off Saturday’s proceedings with a huge carnival procession from Hove Lawns to Preston Park with around 200,000 people either taking part or looking on.

Brighton College, which has four transgender pupils and which launched a gender-neutral uniform last year allowing boys to wear skirts, is the only school taking part in this year’s event and it is thought to be the first school to have ever taken part in the Pride parade.

Pupils are already busy making peace and love banners and 1960s-inspired outfits for this year’s event which has the Summer of Love as its theme in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

Headmaster Richard Cairns, who will take to the school’s parade float dressed as Theseus from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, said: “Too many young people in too many schools have their lives blighted by homophobic bullying and too many teachers don’t do enough about it.

“Stonewall research shows that 55 per cent of secondary school teachers don’t always act when they hear a homophobic comment but always react to a racist comment which leads to low self-esteem in youngsters, greater self-harm and higher levels of suicide.

“Awareness of this was raised recently at Brighton College by Sir Ian McKellen which prompted sixth form pupils to ask if we could have a float focused on anti-bullying.

“We were delighted to do so and the building and design has been a wonderful summer project for our artists and designers.

“We will also have some of our swing band and dancers on the float as well as one of our governors.”

Paul Kemp, Brighton Pride CIC managing director, said: “Brighton and Hove have always lead the way in celebrating the diversity and acceptance within all our communities so we are thrilled to have Brighton College join the Pride community parade for the first time this year.

“Brighton and Hove is has always been an exciting and vibrant city for young people and Pride is a great way to bring communities together and celebrate Pride in our city.

“This year’s community parade is expected to be one of biggest ever with over 100 entries already signed up, with entries from our community groups and charities to local businesses and national brands all getting involved.”