3,000 racist incidents at Scottish schools in past 5 years

Some 3,000 racist incidents have been reported in schools since 2011, according to new figures compiled by the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Tavish Scott fears the EU referendum has played a part. Picture: Gordon Fraser

Freedom of Information requests by the party uncovered almost 2,000 racist incidents in primary schools and 1,000 in secondary schools between 2011-12 and 2015-16.

The figures were provided by 26 out of 32 local authorities, although Glasgow City Council and Aberdeen City Council were not included.

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesman Tavish Scott said: “Many more incidents will still go unreported and we cannot allow there to be a spike in racist incidents in schools following the result of the EU referendum.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Bullying of any form is entirely unacceptable and it is very welcome that in the last two years, the number of recorded incidents of abuse in this form fell by almost half in primary schools, and by a quarter in secondary schools.”