A CONCERTED effort to stamp out racial harassment in Bury schools is being made by town hall bosses.

training for teachers and governors along with proper recording of racist incidents for the first time are key elements in promoting a new climate of tolerance.

The policy has been drawn up in the light of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, and also concern from schools about the need for clear policy and guidance.

The LawrenceInquiry recommends that schools have policies to prevent and address racism, that schools record all racist incidents, and that these are reported to the pupils' parents, governors and the council. The Government is likely to make these proposals law.

Bury is now to spend £30,600 to bring consultants into schools to train staff in racial awareness: most have received no such training.

Officers will also send all schools a copy of new guidelines prepared by the Commission for Racial Equality and due to be published in the New Year.

Mr Harold Williams, chief education officer, said that racial harassment has not had a high profile within the education service recently.

"There has been little training, no guidance and no reporting and monitoring system."

He added: "Bury is no different from elsewhere. We have to take this seriously. Legislation will coming in soon: there's no doubt we have to move forward." Ms Helen Andrews, secondary teachers' representative on the executive committee, welcomed the move.

"It's an important policy," she told Wednesday's (Dec 8) meeting. "It will be useful in ensuring that schools deal with incidents in a prompt and proper manner but also giving us the statistics that we need."

Tory councillor Roy Walker said that racial harassment worked both ways, and the council had to be even-handed. He also wondered how serious the problem was, adding: "I'm not against the policy but let's have the factual evidence and see what's really going on."

Labour councillor Andrea Hughes said there was not a culture of racial harassment in local schools, but pupils had said in a council survey that the problem exists.

And deputy council leader John Byrne added: "We want to make young people aware of what is right and wrong, and education is one of the key elements in promoting tolerance."

THE council has also approved an action plan for working with young people generally to boost racial tolerance.

The guidelines were drawn up following a meeting earlier this year to consider racial equality attended by 140 pupils from 12 high schools in the borough.

The plans include holding a multi-cultural music night, asking schools with large Muslim numbers to consider providing halal meat and a prayer room, and making sure council buildings are free of graffiti.

Proposals also include holding training and information events for those working with young people, and publishing a directory of performers and places to visit to make it easier for local people to celebrate ethnic diversity.

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