Racism is rising among school pupils, alarming figures reveal. A total of 7,403 were suspended last year over incidents including racially motivated assaults, vile language and social media taunts.
The numbers revealed today are a worrying 50% higher than the previous year and emerge after a nationwide outcry this week over a video of a race attack at a school in Surrey egged on by adults.
The Department for Education figures for England, uncovered by Sunday Mirror Freedom of Information requests, also show teachers and support staff are being targeted, as well as pupils. And the culprits include children as young as four.
An anti-racism campaigner yesterday warned pupils’ isolation in lockdowns could be to blame for the rise in incidents. More worried parents are coming forward to shared their stories of classroom racism.
One mum from London claimed a male pupil told her daughter she “should be in the black bin because her skin is dirty”. The parent said it was the third time her girl had faced racist taunts at school.
Another parent added: “Today a white boy at school told my son he was not “black enough” to be offended by a white boy’s use of the N-word. They’re 12.”
Nick Lowles, chief at anti-racism pressure group HOPE not hate, warned schools are “poorly equipped” to tackle the problem.
He said: “After Covid, some young people are spending more time online where they are exposed to racist or homophobic views. We support teachers, pupils and parents to help them recognise and tackle the signs of hate through education workshops.”
It comes after a petition against a head teacher’s failure to stop a horrific filmed assault on a female pupil hit nearly 2,000 signatures.
The video showed a black schoolgirl, 15, being attacked by children kicking and dragging her by the hair outside Thomas Knyvett College in Ashford, Surrey. A woman, 39, and three girls, two aged 11 and one 16, were later arrested on suspicion of attempted racially aggravated grievous bodily harm.
Meanwhile, far-right protesters today tried to disrupt a children’s storytelling session by drag queen and author Aida H Dee at London’s Tate Britain. There was a large police presence and one arrest was made outside the art gallery.
