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Number of racist and homophobic incidents reported in secondary schools

Oliver Murphy made this Freedom of Information request to Hinchingbrooke School, Huntingdon as part of a batch sent to 28 authorities This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

We're waiting for Oliver Murphy to read recent responses and update the status.

Oliver Murphy
Delivered

Dear FOI Team,

I'm writing under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act to request the number of racist and homophobic incidents recorded in institutions providing secondary education between 2017-23.

For the purposes of this request, a racist incident is defined as: "any situation perceived to be racist by the alleged victim or any other person".

A homophobic incident is defined as: "any situation which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on a person's sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation."

As part of this request, I would like the information broken down into the following:

(i) The total number of racist and homophobic incidents recorded between 2017-23, broken down by school year;

(ii) A short description of the outcome of each incident, e.g. were alleged perpetrators disciplined for their actions?

(iii) Any information on programmes, either implemented or planned, to prevent both racist and homophobic incidents;

(iv) The number of students who have changed schools as a result of racist and/or homophobic incidents between 2017-23;

(v) What resources are available for victims who experience racist and/or homophobic incidents?

Yours faithfully,

Oliver Murphy

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Oliver Murphy
Delivered

Dear Hinchingbrooke School, Huntingdon,

I'm writing to inform you that have you exceeded the statutory 20-working-day response time as set out under the Freedom of Information Act.

I would be grateful if you could provide the information requested or outline a relevant exemption.

Yours faithfully,

Oliver Murphy

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McMillanD - Staff,

Good morning Oliver

I acknowledge receipt of your FOI but unfortunately do not have any record of a previous request. Please can you forward this to me? Without the original request, I shall treat this as a new request and respond within the stipulated time frame of 20 working day. Given that we will be closed from 4pm on the 28th March for the Easter holidays, the 20th working day will be 2nd May.

Regards

David McMillan
Director of Finance & Operations
E: [email address]
T: 01480 420501

ACES Academies Trust
Hinchingbrooke School
Brampton
Huntingdon
PE29 3BN
W: www.ACESacademies.co.uk

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Oliver Murphy
Delivered

Dear McMillanD - Staff,

Hi David, that's most bizarre. Apologies you did not receive the original email. Here's the request:

I'm writing under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act to request the number of racist and homophobic incidents recorded in institutions providing secondary education between 2017-23.

For the purposes of this request, a racist incident is defined as: "any situation perceived to be racist by the alleged victim or any other person".

A homophobic incident is defined as: "any situation which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on a person's sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation."

As part of this request, I would like the information broken down into the following:

(i) The total number of racist and homophobic incidents recorded between 2017-23, broken down by school year;

(ii) A short description of the outcome of each incident, e.g. were alleged perpetrators disciplined for their actions?

(iii) Any information on programmes, either implemented or planned, to prevent both racist and homophobic incidents;

(iv) The number of students who have changed schools as a result of racist and/or homophobic incidents between 2017-23;

(v) What resources are available for victims who experience racist and/or homophobic incidents?

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Murphy

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McMillanD - Staff,

I am currently away from the office.  I will be back in office on
26^th March.  Emails will be actioned on my return.

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McMillanD - Staff,

Morning Oliver

Thank you for the clarification - can you forward the original request? I can start working on the requirements but will be working to 20 days from the last email without this

David McMillan
Director of Finance & Operations
E: [email address]
T: 01480 420501

ACES Academies Trust
Hinchingbrooke School
Brampton
Huntingdon
PE29 3BN
W: www.ACESacademies.co.uk

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Oliver Murphy
Delivered

Hi David,

Let me know when you receive this.

I'm writing under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act to request the number of racist and homophobic incidents recorded in institutions providing secondary education between 2017-23.

For the purposes of this request, a racist incident is defined as: "any situation perceived to be racist by the alleged victim or any other person".

A homophobic incident is defined as: "any situation which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on a person's sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation."

As part of this request, I would like the information broken down into the following:

(i) The total number of racist and homophobic incidents recorded between 2017-23, broken down by school year;

(ii) A short description of the outcome of each incident, e.g. were alleged perpetrators disciplined for their actions?

(iii) Any information on programmes, either implemented or planned, to prevent both racist and homophobic incidents;

(iv) The number of students who have changed schools as a result of racist and/or homophobic incidents between 2017-23;

(v) What resources are available for victims who experience racist and/or homophobic incidents?

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Murphy

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McMillanD - Staff,

Thank you Oliver and received. I will treat this as day 1 and get back in touch ASAP

David McMillan
Director of Finance & Operations
E: [email address]
T: 01480 420501

ACES Academies Trust
Hinchingbrooke School
Brampton
Huntingdon
PE29 3BN
W: www.ACESacademies.co.uk

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McMillanD - Staff,

Oliver

Apologies for the time taken to get back to you. We have been attempting to get data from our safeguarding system to meet your requirements. Our Responses are as follows:

(i) The total number of racist and homophobic incidents recorded between 2017-23, broken down by school year

Number of Students Student Days Homophobic Incidents Homophobic Incidents per Student Day Racist incidents Racist incidents per Student Day
2017/2018 No Data Held
2018/2019 1897 360430 2 0.00001 6 0.00002
2019/2020 1897 360430 12 0.00003 28 0.00008
2020/2021 1876 356440 11 0.00003 26 0.00007
2021/2022 1943 369170 22 0.00006 36 0.00010
2022/2023 1997 379430 31 0.00008 46 0.00012
2023/2024 2033 386270 26 0.00007 53 0.00014

(ii) A short description of the outcome of each incident, e.g. were alleged perpetrators disciplined for their actions?

We are unable to provide this data. Details cannot be extracted from the system without purchasing additional software modules.

Discrimination is listed as part of the key aims list in Hinchingbrooke School's behaviour policy: "to reduce the number of incidents of bullying, discrimination and other unacceptable behaviours and increase student confidence in reporting it".

The curriculum section of the behaviour policy states "The PSHCE curriculum and its focus on citizenship teach patterns of behaviour that are appropriate in school and society. This curriculum area addresses such issues as name-calling, manners, abusive language, swearing, bullying, racism, sexism, discrimination, and individual rights"

Finally, discrimination is listed as an example of a high-level incident, which means that any behaviour incident related to this would incur a high-level sanction as part of Hinchingbrooke School's zero tolerance approach to discrimination. This includes detentions run by the Senior Leadership Team and internal and external exclusions.

(iii) Any information on programmes, either implemented or planned, to prevent both racist and homophobic incidents;

The following have been done previously and are also ongoing:

• Form tutor sessions explaining appropriate language and what is/is not acceptable as well as the sanctions for these
• Assemblies on the importance of being anti-racist and how students can do this
• Pride celebrations and LGBTQ+ History Month competitions to promote celebration
• Focus groups with victims of discriminatory incidents to talk about how the school can tackle these
• Whole school staff training on how to tackle discriminatory incidents
• Diversity drop down day off timetable to promote/celebrate the protected characteristics which have included talks from Stuart Lawrence and the Kite Trust
• Discriminatory re-education booklet produced for those who are involved in incidents so they learn from them and understand why it is not appropriate
• Form time SMSC sessions for remembrance days e.g. Stephen Lawrence Day; South Asian Heritage Month etc.

(iv) The number of students who have changed schools as a result of racist and/or homophobic incidents between 2017-23

Zero

(v) What resources are available for victims who experience racist and/or homophobic incidents?

The school has a comprehensive pastoral system including school councillors which students can access and gain support from.

David McMillan
Director of Finance & Operations
E: [email address]
T: 01480 420501

ACES Academies Trust
Hinchingbrooke School
Brampton
Huntingdon
PE29 3BN
W: www.ACESacademies.co.uk

show quoted sections

Link to this Report
We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Oliver Murphy please sign in and let everyone know.