Teachers 'ill-equipped' to tackle racism

The research, The Barriers to Tackling Racism and Promoting Equality in England’s Schools, includes a survey of 148 teachers. This found the vast majority had seen racist incidents such as name calling and stereotyping.

Asylum seekers were often the target, with pupils making them scapegoats for wider problems in society, according to teachers questioned.

The research also highlights a lack of training for teachers to tackle racism and promote equality.

Of those surveyed just 39 per cent had received specific training in this area. Of those who had, the majority described it as "cursory" leaving them ill-equipped to effectively tackle racism.

Many teachers were confused as to how to react to racist incidents, saying they would be reluctant to step in if they perceived it to be "unintentional" or "the first time it had happened".

Just under a third of teachers said they had witnessed racist attitudes among their colleagues.

As well as more effective training for teachers Show Racism the Red Card is calling for discussion spaces to be made available for pupils to openly discuss their attitudes to race. This would help tackle the issues and help them to "value diversity".

Show Racism the Red Card chief executive Ged Grebby said: "Teachers need to be empowered with skills and knowledge in order to be better equipped to deal with these issues in schools."