Racism in Schools Soars: Suspensions for Discriminatory Behavior Skyrocket

According to the latest data, the number of students being suspended for racist behavior in UK schools has skyrocketed in the past two years. In the 2023/2024 academic year, there were 15,191 suspensions for racist incidents, a dramatic increase from 7,403 in the school year ending 2021.

The suspensions typically stem from discriminatory language, but can also include racist social media posts, graffiti, and even physical attacks. Particularly concerning is the fact that 2,485 of these suspensions involved primary school children, with five incidents logged against Reception Class pupils as young as four years old.

Campaigners have stressed that very young children may not fully understand the concept of racist language, but they say older students are increasingly getting into trouble for inappropriate social media posts. Experts also point to a broader rise in antisocial behavior at schools due to the impact of pandemic lockdowns.

At the same time, teachers have been placing a greater emphasis on reporting racist incidents, which has likely contributed to the spike in suspension figures. The Department for Education has acknowledged that the situation is "unacceptable" and has vowed to provide more support for schools to tackle the root causes of such behavior.