HAMPSHIRE schools had the fourth most school exclusions for racism across local authorities in England.

A record number of suspensions from schools last year were because of racist abuse, a new analysis shows.

Anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate said a rise in the combined number of fixed-term and permanent exclusions for racism is a concern but that schools are clamping down on the behaviour.

An analysis of Department for Education data released last week shows schools in England suspended or permanently excluded students 4,904 times for racist abuse in 2018-19.

Hampshire record 128 exclusions, behind only Hertfordshire (147), Essex (155) and Kent (166).

The national figure was the highest number since records began in 2006-07, and an increase of 13% from 4,329 in the previous academic year.

Of the exclusions last year, 4,889 were temporary – also known as suspensions – and 15 were permanent.

The figures include abuse by children at state-funded primary, secondary and special schools.

Owen Jones, head of education at Hope Not Hate, said the number of racist abuse exclusions last year was “worrying”.

However, he added: “From what we have seen, there is a much better concerted effort to clamp down and take it more seriously.

“The process of exclusion is fraught for everyone involved, but the tolerance for that behaviour is reducing.

“Students of colour are having more confidence to speak up. It’s not just about the ‘n’ word, it’s about comments made throughout the day which make students feel unwelcome.”

Mr Jones said racist abuse is a concern in rural and coastal schools, which have mostly white student populations.

Angela Wright, education development lead at anti-hate crime charity Stop Hate UK, said targets for racist incidents are becoming increasingly younger.

“It is important to remember that behind every hate incident is an individual and family that are affected,” she said.

She added that the charity has seen a desire among students to call out racism following the death of George Floyd in the US.

Overall, English schools excluded pupils 446,000 times in 2018-19 – an increase of 7% from 2017-18.

Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, fears there will be further exclusions as a result of children struggling to adjust to being back at school after the coronavirus lockdown.

“Excluding a child makes them more vulnerable to exploitation by criminal gangs and less likely to leave education with the qualifications they need to succeed,” she said.

A DfE spokesman said permanent exclusion should be a last resort.

He added: “We know that some pupils will return to school in September having experienced loss or adversity as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which is why we have also provided guidance for school leaders on how to re-engage these pupils and create the right classroom environment to help them thrive.”

The 10 local authorities with the highest number of racist abuse exclusions were:

  1. Kent – 166
  2. Essex – 155
  3. Hertfordshire – 147
  4. Hampshire – 128
  5. Birmingham – 116
  6. Lancashire – 90
  7. Manchester – 85
  8. Derbyshire – 83
  9. Surrey – 82
  10. Lincolnshire – 80