A SCHEME to break down racial barriers in an East Lancashire high school where children come from different ethnic backgrounds is being intriguingly extended in a way that attacks prejudices before they start - by pairing up pupils with youngsters at nearby primary schools as they prepare to move up to secondary school.

The transition is one that can often be stressful in ordinary circumstances, but as Blackburn's Queen's Park High is aware, with schools in its intake that are predominantly white and Asian, it can entail a culture shock for youngsters suddenly plunged into racially-mixed school.

But having set up a mixed in-school group of pupils who have worked together to examine attitudes and behaviour that lead to racial tension and sought ways to promote better relationship, Queen's Park is now sending them out as 'mentors' to work with final-year primary children so that racial barriers are overcome as they make the switch to secondary.

Is this not a commendable scheme - when it confronts what can be a difficult leap for children in any case, but also puts lessons in living and working together on to the school timetable before prejudices have a chance to form?