Archived decisions

Contact: John Clarke, Assistant County Education Officer, County Office.
Tel: 01962 846459 or Ian Massey, Intercultural Inspector, Fleet Local Office.
Tel: 01252 814772

1. Summary

2.1 This report is in response to recommendations for a follow up report on the issue of schools' compliance in making annual returns to the LEA.

2.2 Following the annual report on racial incidents, the head of Legal Services wrote to all schools reminding them of their legal obligations.

2.3 This has resulted in an increase in secondary schools making a late return, but there has been no response from those schools who have not made a return for three and four years.

2. Follow up actions

2.4 The report on Combating Racial Harassment for 2002 indicated that there was a small number of schools who had not made a return for three and four years. The number of schools making a return for 2001 was 448.

2.5 The number of returns from secondary schools remained at about 70% compared to 92% of infant schools.

2.6 In response to this situation it was recommended that the head of Legal Services write to all schools reminding them of their obligations under legislation.

2.7 This resulted in 50 enquiries, either by phone or email, from schools asking whether they had made a return for 2002. Of these schools 30 had made a return but 20 had not. Of these 20, eight (40% ), were secondary schools. However, this did not include any of the seven schools who had not made a return for three and four years.

2.8 Several of the 30 schools who had in fact made returns expressed disquiet at being included in such a general letter as they had always co-operated in this exercise.

3. Recommendations follow up

3.1 That the Chairman write to the Chair of Governors of the small minority of schools not responding to the annual collation exercise, to ask them to assist with the LEA scrutiny function and provide data requested.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB The list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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