Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many incidents of racism against a) pupils and b) staff were reported in schools in England in each of the last five years.

The department does not centrally collect data on the number of reported incidents of racism against pupils or staff in schools in England and therefore does not hold the information requested.

The department publishes guidance for schools on preventing and tackling bullying and, more recently, on preventing and tackling the bullying and harassment of school staff. This is avaiable at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-bullying; and: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying-and-harassment-of-school-staff/preventing-and-tackling-the-bullying-and-harassment-of-school-staff. Schools are expected to have appropriate policies and procedures in place to address bullying and discriminatory behaviour.

School leaders are responsible for ensuring that schools comply with their duties under the Equality Act 2010, including taking appropriate action to prevent and tackle discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Schools are expected to have effective behaviour and anti-bullying policies in place and to address incidents of racist abuse when they occur.