Mandatory Reporting of Racist Bullying Incidents

Casework taken on by the Traveller Movement in recent years has consistently demonstrated a link between racist bullying and school exclusions. Many schools lack a formal process for combatting racist bullying and so not enough is done to address such incidents. As a result, children often self-exclude (leave school or declare home education before a formal exclusion process can take place), or are excluded following situations arising from a history of bullying which has been overlooked by the school. An important step in breaking the school to prison pipeline is to address and tackle racist bullying in schools, and ensure children are supported to stay in education.

Schools must have a formal process for dealing with racist bullying and must provide trauma-informed support for children experiencing this. Often, those who experience racist bullying are punished after  behaviour has escalated to physical confrontations between perpetrator and victim because effective interventions have not been made to stop the bullying. Schools have a responsibility to address incidents of racist bullying before they escalate to violence but this frequently does not happen, to the detriment of all pupils.

Currently, schools must publish information annually to demonstrate compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty, and must publish equality objectives every four years. However, it is not a legal requirement to record incidents of racist bullying or to implement equality and diversity policies. As the government’s Equality Act Advice states, previous legislation required schools to “produce equality schemes in relation to race, disability and gender. Under the [current] specific duties, there are no requirements to create equality schemes.”²⁹ This is a huge oversight.

Many cases taken on by the Traveller Movement have shown that often exclusions from school arise because concerns about racist bullying are not taken seriously. A multilevel approach is needed, from local school leadership, through to local authority, charities and the third sector, and up to government level. Equality objectives should be made statutory in schools, with a specific race-centred focus. Equality and diversity policies are currently not mandatory where there is a clear necessity for this to be so.

The Traveller Movement recently brought a legal case against the Department for Education concerning the failure to address racist bullying directed at Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children at schools in England. We called upon the Secretary of State to produce specific guidance for schools on how to respond effectively to anti-Gypsy, Roma and Traveller bullying, to reintroduce a requirement to record and monitor incidents of racist bullying in schools, to include specific reference to anti-Gypsy, Roma and Traveller bullying in the government’s general guidance on bullying in schools, among other recommendations. As the Secretary of State made important commitments in their response to address racist bullying against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller youth, the Traveller Movement decided not to take the case further. Nevertheless, we feel that much more must be done, on both a national and local level, to tackle the prevalence of anti-Gypsy, Roma and Traveller bullying in schools. Not only is bullying detrimental to children’s wellbeing and mental health, but it can lead to physical altercations between the perpetrator and victim which may then result in exclusion for violence. In this way, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children who experience racist bullying at school are let down by the education system.

Recommendations: 

2.2        Incidents of racist bullying un schools must be recorded with standardised, formal procedures in place.

---

[Migration note – rebuild on main: Recommended-posts widget]

[migrated from https://education.travellermovement.org.uk/our-mission/our-mission-bullying/]

Bullying in any form is entirely unacceptable and must be addressed robustly by schools whenever it occurs, both inside and outside of school.

Research indicates that 70% of Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller children will experience race-based discrimination during their educational journey.

We are working diligently every day to tackle attitudes towards the bullying of Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller children at both national and local levels. Use the tools and services below to support your child.

Supporting Your Child Through Bullying

Experiencing bullying can be extremely challenging for any child or young person. As a parent or carer, you may feel helpless watching your child face difficulties they aren’t equipped to handle.

Engaging in open conversations about bullying is essential, even if it’s difficult. Many parents worry about causing embarrassment or damaging their child’s relationships, but your support is often their best chance of seeking help.

Bullying can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression, increasing the risk of self-harm and suicide. Your thoughtful intervention, alongside available services, can be crucial in helping your child tackle bullying. By taking action, you are safeguarding their wellbeing, health, and future.

Available Tools & Services

[We can put resources here]

Most schools are willing and able to manage concerns about bullying. However, there are times when children and their parents or carers feel unheard and may need to take further action. This may be especially true for Romany Gypsy, Roma, and Irish Traveller families who believe that their concerns regarding racist bullying are not being addressed.

In such cases, it’s essential to file a complaint to challenge the school’s actions. While some parents fear retaliation, it’s important to know that such behaviour may be unlawful. Support is available to help you address any retaliatory actions, and it’s crucial not to let instances of mishandled bullying go unchallenged.

For more information on making a complaint about a school if a bullying issue is not resolved, including relevant forms and contact details for Ofsted, the Education Funding Agency and the Department for Education, visit the Ofsted online complaints page.

Follow the school complaints procedure

Whether your child attends a school, academy, or college — public or private — your first step should be to follow the school’s internal complaints procedure, which they are required to have under the Education Act 2002. A typical process includes:

1. Discussing your concerns with your child’s tutor or Head of Year.
2. Sending a letter to the Headteacher if initial discussions do not resolve the issue.
3. If necessary, escalating the matter by writing to the Chair of Governors.

Always keep your letters concise and factual, and retain copies of all correspondence. If your child continues to experience bullying, it may help to maintain a diary of events, which can be shared with the school.

Further action you can take

• Contact the Local Authority: Your local authority may have staff who can provide support for you and your child. Bullying is a child protection issue, and your concerns should be taken seriously.
• Contact Ofsted: Ofsted has the authority to consider certain complaints about schools under Section 11 of the Education Act 2005, provided you have followed the school’s complaints procedure. For more information, visit Ofsted’s website.
• Contact Your Local MP: Your local MP can listen to your concerns about bullying in school or the community and may raise these issues with the local authority or the Department for Education on your behalf.
• Contact the Secretary of State for Education: If your child is in a maintained school and you’ve exhausted the school complaints procedure, you can write to the Secretary of State for Education. Include all steps you’ve taken to resolve the complaint.

Department for Education Contact Information

Address your formal correspondence to:

The Secretary of State
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London, SW1P 3BT

For further details, visit the Department for Education website.

If you are concerned that your conversations with your child’s school aren’t being taken seriously, give our Community Advocacy Caseworker a call on 07908 433413. We are always here to support you.