Management Information Sheet

Norfolk County Council currently collects schools data in respect of prejudice related incidents and this information has been valuable in informing policy and practice within the LA and appropriate support to schools and educational settings.

The current form ‘Report of Identify Based Incident’ is being replaced with an online report form which will allow the reporting of all prejudice related incidents. This reflects best practice and will bring our reporting procedures in line with the Equality Act 2010 and the general and specific duties which apply to all public bodies including the Local Authority and schools. This new system is effective from 13 April 2015.

The new format includes all protected characteristics which are:

• Race (ethnicity)
• Sex (gender)
• Disability
• Religion or belief
• Sexual orientation
• Gender reassignment
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Marriage*
• Age*

*These refer to staff but not pupils

Recording prejudice related incidents Recording racist incidents was a recommendation of the 1999 MacPherson Report of the inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. In addition to in-school reporting procedures, sharing the data with the Local Authority allows the identification of patterns and contributes to the monitoring of the effectiveness of countywide strategy and training and the development of models of best practice.

By extending the existing protocol to include all prejudice related incidents, schools will evidence how they

• Foster good relations
• Advance equality of opportunity
• Eliminate discrimination

These are requirements of the Equality Act

How to decide if it is a prejudice related incident or bullying

A prejudiced-related incident is any incident which is perceived by the victim, or any other person, to be prejudiced towards an individual, due to one or more of the protected characteristics.

Bullying is behaviour by an individual or group, repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally. Three characteristics of bullying are:

• Deliberately hurtful (including aggression)
• Repeated often over a period of time
• Difficult for the victim to defend themselves against

Bullying may be because of a protected characteristic but this is not always the case.

A prejudice related incident may not be bullying. Bullying related to a protected characteristic would always be a prejudice related incident.

How to report a Prejudice Related Incident to the Local Authority

Follow the link to the reporting form which should be completed and submitted electronically. In each section you can access ‘help’ pages which contain further information and clarification. This does not replace your in-school reporting systems.

PLEASE NOTE THAT EMAIL AND PAPER COPIES WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED

Contacts:

If you would like any advice or support in respect of a prejudice related incident please contact Keeley White, Adviser Vulnerable Pupils/Groups (keeley.white@norfolk.gov.uk tel: 01603 307794, Mob: 07876 038 246)

If the incident relates to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender issues please contact Rita Adair (rita.adair@norfolk.gov.uk tel: 01603 307567, Mob:07917 215202)

Rita can also offer support and information regarding bullying related incidents.