Race relations legislation, ethnicity and disproportionality in school exclusions in England

Abstract

This paper extends earlier research into the responses of local authorities and schools to the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 (RRAA) in relation to minority ethnic pupils and exclusion practices. The original study drew on evidence from national exclusions data, a wide range of official documentation and visit data from 85 secondary, primary and special schools and pupil referral units (PRUs) in England. It focused on the disproportionality in rates of permanent and fixed term exclusion for minority ethnic pupils, particularly black Caribbean pupils and those from other black backgrounds. One‐quarter of the difference between black Caribbean permanent exclusion rates and the rates for other pupils is explained by factors relating to deprivation. More recent national data available confirm that the disproportionalities continue. This suggests a lack of compliance with the requirements of the RRAA at the level of national agencies, local authorities and schools. The persistence of disproportionalities in exclusions by ethnic group can be considered institutionally racist outcomes.