Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 19 February 2026 [Draft]
19 Feb 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Racism in Schools
Mr Kerr will be aware that the Government published updated guidance on consequences prior to the summer recess last year. As for data on meaningful disciplinary action itself, those are not data sets that the Government would itself gather.
I should say that there are broader issues in relation to our education data at the current time. I am sure that this will be a matter that the incoming Government, following dissolution and the election, will want to consider in due course, as there are certain issues to look at in relation to data sharing and data being more readily available to ministers who sit at national level.
In the same item of business
5. Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle racism in secondary schools. (S6O-05543)
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills (Jenny Gilruth)
SNP
There is no place for racism in our schools and we are committed to addressing it across all education settings. The anti-racism in education programme stren...
Emma Harper
SNP
I have heard reports of pupils moving schools due to persistent racist bullying. That can be especially difficult for families in rural areas, where alternat...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
I am very shocked to hear that pupils have been encouraged to move schools, in some instances, because they have been on the receiving end of persistent raci...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
There are a couple of supplementary questions, which will need to be brief.
Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Ind)
Ind
What specific funding allocations will be made to support participative curriculum resourcing with regard to anti-racist materials? How will schools be suppo...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
Mr Choudhury raises a very important point, and a number of different funding streams are related to the issues raised in his question. The building racial l...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
From the data that the cabinet secretary has available to her, can she say what proportion of incidents result in meaningful disciplinary action? How would t...
Jenny Gilruth
SNP
Mr Kerr will be aware that the Government published updated guidance on consequences prior to the summer recess last year. As for data on meaningful discipli...