Schools battling surge in discrimination as 50 kids a day sent home for racism
![Last year, there were 9,452 suspensions for racist behaviour - up from 4,889 in the last school year before Covid (Image: Getty Images)](/upload/news/2024/03/09/171658.jpg)
Schools are battling a surge in racism as 50 pupils a day are sent home in disgrace, up 24% in a year.
Experts fear children developed racist views, often fuelled by vile internet content, while isolated at home during the Covid lockdowns – which were not challenged until they returned to school. Teachers mostly deal with racist language but also tackle physical attacks and race-hate vandalism. And kids increasingly make racist social media posts.
Last year, there were 9,452 suspensions for racist behaviour – up from 7,403 the previous 12 months and 4,889 in the last school year before Covid. Dr Shabna Begum, of think-tank the Runnymede Trust, said: “The figures should ring alarm bells. But punishing children through exclusions will not root out the racism that pervades schools. Racism requires whole-school and whole-society responses.”
Secondary pupils were worst for racism last year but 952 suspensions were in primaries – including two in reception, which pupils start aged four. An earlier Freedom of Information survey found staff were often victims of racist language and pupils were caught using the n-word and the p-word.
A YMCA report found 95% of Black youngsters heard or witnessed racist language at school. And a study last year found kids in Wales had hijabs pulled off. The National Association of Head Teachers wants anti-racism training for staff.
![Nursery apologises after child with Down's syndrome ‘treated less favourably’ eiqrtiquqiqerinv](/upload/news/2023/02/01/25_m.jpg)
The Department for Education said: “We expect schools to take immediate action against discrimination and are investing £10million in our behaviour hubs programme.”
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus![](/upload/news/2024/07/02/176213_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/27/176126_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/27/176124_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/06/24/176066_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176241_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176240_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176238_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176237_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176236_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176235_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176234_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176232_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176231_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176230_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176229_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176228_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176227_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176226_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176225_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176223_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176222_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/03/176221_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/02/176220_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/02/176219_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/02/176218_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/02/176217_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/02/176216_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/02/176215_m.jpg)
![](/upload/news/2024/07/02/176213_m.jpg)