More than 900 racist incidents were reported by schools in Kent in 2022-23, according to figures pointing to a significant year-on-year jump.

Data provided by schools show an alarming rise in racial incidents at both secondary and primary schools, with a survey finding that a small number involved children in reception class or Year 1.

Analysis of the data, which is based on a yearly voluntary survey of schools in Kent, reveals an escalating number of incidents.

In 2022-23, there were 913 incidents in total reported by primary, secondary and special schools. The highest number - 473 - were from primaries; some 332 came from secondary schools and 108 from special schools.

The previous year, of 586 incidents, 352 were reported from primary and 223 from secondary.

When it came to the type of racist behaviour and age of the perpetrator, name-calling and verbal abuse were the most common, with 669 incidents involving children aged 11-to-14.

The data is collected from the Racial Incidents in Schools Survey 2022-23 carried out by Kent County Council. It’s voluntary and doesn’t include Medway, so the number of incidents is likely much higher.

Carol Stewart of the Medway Afro Caribbean Association believes schools and education were important in providing “a broader and more accurate picture”.

She said: “Sadly, we have seen a rise in far-right activity; when you have certain political parties that promote segregation and hate, people are picking up on that, because no one is born as prejudiced.

“It is nurtured in the home environment or community environment. We are also seeing the growth of cyber-bullying.

"Some of the rhetoric around people who are fleeing trauma and people's perceptions around that - children are hearing those conversations at home.

"Education has a key role to play in terms of not reinforcing those stereotypes and educating children in the rich diversity of England."

Some of these incidents have hit the headlines over the last few months.

In February 2023, an investigation was launched at Walderslade Girls School after shocking footage of a group of girls fighting in a classroom emerged.

The video shows a young white girl making her way into a classroom and attacking a black student, before a brawl erupts between the girls and their friends.

A statement from head teacher Louise Campbell said: "The school is committed to driving out violence and links of violence connected to racism, homophobia and other discrimination.”

In November, staff who were on strike at the Oasis Academy on the Isle of Sheppey revealed that teachers were subjected to racist abuse regularly.

One teacher said: “Members of staff are off with stress because they've been physically assaulted. We have the n-word used on a regular basis to our black teachers.

“We have chairs thrown. I myself have been threatened with death on numerous occasions.”

Education chiefs say one of the reasons for the increase is that the authority has made it easier to register incidents.

Read more: Why Kent children are being referred to a terror watchdog

But anti-racist groups and campaigners say the rise is worrying and some of the blame lies with the use of social media to spread racist views.

The most recent survey shows that Thanet had the largest number of racist incidents both at primary and secondary level.

Five of the eight secondary schools registered 56 incidents in total, equating to 62.5% of the area’s schools.

At primary level, 72 incidents were reported at nine of its schools that registered their figures.

Maidstone had the next largest number of incidents at secondary level, with 58 incidents reported along with 63 at 14 of the area’s primaries.

Swale schools reported 69 incidents of a racist nature at 20 of its primaries but 40 at secondary level.

In a statement, Kent County Council said: “Since 2020, there has been a rise in the number of racial incidents being reported.

“While there is no one specific reason to explain the increase, it is clear in recent years awareness of the issues and access to support has increased giving people more confidence to report incidents.

“KCC provides direct support to schools and settings to offer training on a wealth of issues, including duties under the Equalities Act, wellbeing and inclusion, promoting race equality and diversity, including unconscious bias.

“The Prevent service also engages with schools where necessary and signpost to free resources to help widen understanding around key issues.”

Gurvinder Sandher of the Kent Equality Cohesion Council said it was important schools integrated debate and learning about racism within lessons rather than treating it separately.

He said: “It is positive that schools are reporting this information and I like to think they will be doing some work around it.

“Young children can be influenced by social media; it is important not to under-estimate the impact of Brexit, Covid and the on-going crisis in the Middle East.”

He said schools in less diverse communities sometimes felt they did not need to learn about the wider issues around racism but it was those that often needed to.

Mr Sandher said: “Like it or not, we live in an inter-connected and diverse world and if young people are not exposed to this, it will hinder them as they get older.”

Learning about racism “should not be seen as an add-on but as core business,” he added.