Schools in Bedford recorded 230 mentions of racist, homophobic, transphobic or disablist abuse linked to suspensions and exclusions between the 2020/21 and 2024/25 academic years, according to analysis by the BBC Shared Data Unit.
The figures form part of a wider national picture which experts say is being driven by a range of social media harms, cuts to anti-bullying support, divisive public conversation and wider community tensions.
Government data analysed by the BBC Shared Data Unit shows schools across England logged nearly 55,000 suspensions and exclusions linked to racist abuse during the same period, alongside more than 13,000 linked to homophobic or transphobic abuse and around 1,600 linked to disablist abuse.
The Department for Education described the national figures as “shocking” and said discrimination had no place in schools.
Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner, said bullying and prejudice could have a long-term impact on children both inside and outside school.
“Every child should feel safe, included, and respected,” she said.
“Children have told me they want everyone to be treated fairly and that bullying can impact their daily lives, mental health and confidence, whether that’s in the playground, or online outside of the school gates.
“Schools should be environments free from prejudice, but they do not exist in isolation.
“School leaders told me in my recent School Census that they worry about external and online influences on children’s wellbeing.”
Bedford figures
The Bedford figures include:
- 187 mentions linked to racist abuse
- 42 linked to homophobic or transphobic abuse
- Fewer than five linked to disablist abuse
The data also show that the majority of recorded incidents in Bedford occurred in secondary schools, with 213 mentions, compared with 16 in primary schools.
The figures are based on reasons recorded when schools issued suspensions or exclusions.
Schools can record up to three reasons for each exclusion, meaning the data does not represent individual incidents or individual pupils.
Bedford’s total of 230 mentions was significantly lower than that of some larger authorities.
Essex recorded the highest total in the dataset with 2,391 mentions, while Rutland recorded the lowest with 46.
However, the BBC Shared Data Unit said caution should be exercised when comparing different areas because school populations vary considerably.
National trend
Nationally, mentions of abuse linked to race, disability, sexuality or gender identity rose by 68% between Spring 2021/22 and Spring 2024/25.
A range of education specialists told the BBC Shared Data Unit the rise showed broader issues affecting schools and society.
Among the factors highlighted were reductions in outreach and anti-bullying services, growing exposure to harmful online content, growing political polarisation and inconsistent teacher training around discrimination.
Martha Boateng, director of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said the figures reflected how identity-based bullying was increasingly affecting young people.
“When bullying targets someone’s identity, it really gets to the core of who they are,” she said.
“We know the ramifications of that and of how children feel about themselves as they get older, and about who they are, which is nothing they can change.
“That can have a massive impact on self-esteem, mental health and general well-being well into adulthood.”
Some experts also said schools were becoming less tolerant of discriminatory language and behaviour than in previous years, which may also cause higher reporting levels.
Education leaders also suggested the rise may partly reflect schools becoming more willing to challenge discriminatory language and behaviour, rather than incidents previously going unrecorded.
Wider concerns
The analysis comes amid growing national concern about the impact of social media platforms plus online influencers on young people’s attitudes and behaviour.
Education unions, charities and teachers told the BBC Shared Data Unit that discriminatory language and abuse increasingly reflected rhetoric and behaviour seen online.
At the same time, schools are also dealing with wider pressures around behaviour, attendance, safeguarding and mental health following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several experts also said schools were increasingly dealing with behaviours shaped outside the classroom.
Online concerns
Ms Boateng said an “increase in negative discourse among adults, particularly online,” was among the causes of children being targeted on the basis of protected characteristics.
“We know children are exposed and see the behaviour adults post online,” she said.
“If we’re posting things that are racist, sexist, homophobic, children are going to be watching and seeing that, whether we like it or not.
“Children are seeing this rhetoric, and therefore it’s likely that it will trickle down into school life.”
The Anti-Bullying Alliance is now calling for schools to record bullying levels more consistently, introduce mandatory anti-bullying awareness training for teachers and appoint dedicated bullying leads.
The findings come as children’s charity the NSPCC warned about the impact social media platforms may have on young people’s behaviour and wellbeing.
New polling commissioned by the charity found 74% of children aged 11 to 15 would support film-style age ratings for social media apps, while 92% of adults backed the idea.
One young person who took part in NSPCC consultation events said: “There should be more requirements on social media companies to verify ages and tailor content appropriately.
“There is already too much responsibility on parents and carers. Young people are getting blamed for something that is not in their hands.”
The NSPCC said children and adults shared concerns about harmful online experiences, including strangers contacting young people, too much screen time and exposure to upsetting content.
The charity is calling on the Government to introduce stronger protections for children online, including age-based classifications for social media platforms and tougher action against damaging content.
The NSPCC said stronger protections were urgently needed online, arguing that social media companies had failed to prioritise children’s safety.
Online rhetoric
Chris Sherwood, the NSPCC’s chief executive, said: “Tech companies have completely failed our children, continually choosing to prioritise profit over safety, with families paying the price.
“Decisive action is now needed by Government to force Silicon Valley to address the serious risks and dangers that continue to exist on their services and ensure we get the protections young people and parents need and deserve.
“Children and adults are telling us they want solutions that go beyond a social media ban. This should include risk-based age ratings for online platforms to ensure young users are getting genuinely safe and age-appropriate experiences.”
Education specialists speaking to the BBC Shared Data Unit also highlighted growing concern about the role that online rhetoric and social media content can play in shaping behaviour in schools.
Ms Boateng added that schools frequently lacked the resources to address the issue effectively.
“There has been a real reduction in schools’ ability to undertake anti-bullying training,” she said. “Schools simply don’t have the funding to be able to pay for the training themselves.”
The Department for Education said discrimination had “no place in schools”.
“Every child deserves to learn in a safe and calm classroom, and we are providing new, expert support to turn things around in hundreds of schools with the biggest behaviour challenges,” said the spokesperson.
Adding, “From our free breakfast clubs to get children settled, to improved teacher training, to clearer guidance on the use of suspensions, we are taking steps to tackle poor behaviour at source and make sure all teachers have the clarity and confidence to act swiftly when they need to.”
The Bedford Independent has approached Bedford Borough Council for comment.
