The study, by the Department for Education and Skills, reached thisconclusion after taking into account the effects of socio-economicdisadvantage.
It suggests that racist attitudes and differential treatment of Blackpupils could be to blame.
But it adds: "Further work to investigate this over-representation isneeded. The focus needs to be on distinguishing the different needs ofthese pupils. Positive approaches to engage them and their parents andto focus on success ... should be considered." The study also says thatTraveller pupils of Irish heritage and Gypsy/Roma pupils are,respectively, 2.7 and 2.6 times more likely than White British pupils tohave special educational needs.
Black-Caribbean pupils have a similar rate of special educational needsto White-British pupils, while Black-African pupils are less likely thanWhite-British to have identified special educational needs.
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