Hate Crime in Schools

The Hate Crime in Schools project was developed to provide participating schools with anti-hate awareness and critical thinking sessions for pupils in Key Stages 2 and 3, alongside teacher training focused on combating hate crime. Its rationale was shaped in part by concerns arising in the immediate post-Brexit period, when disturbing trends suggested an increased risk of hate-related incidents. The project aimed to equip children with the critical thinking skills needed to recognise fake news, negative rhetoric, and hate in both online and offline contexts. It was designed to support the four purposes of the new Curriculum for Wales and also contributed to embedding the principles of the ‘Rights, Respect, Equality’ anti-bullying statutory guidance introduced in 2019. The initiative formed part of a broader set of Welsh Government measures, some community-focused. Thoughtful (then SAPERE) contributed to the project along with Show Racism the Red Card, Race Equality First,  North Wales Regional Equality Network, and Race Council Cymru.​

Despite significant challenges, particularly those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the project achieved encouraging reach and impact. Pupil training sessions were delivered in 143 schools out of a planned 160, representing an 89% success rate, and engaged over 18,000 pupils – approximately 3.8% of the pupil population in Wales. Teacher training uptake was more limited: 212 teachers completed all three modules of the course out of a possible 480, with a further 242 completing part of the programme.

Feedback from both pupils and teachers was consistently positive regarding the quality and impact of the training. Pupils reported increased awareness of the consequences of prejudice and the importance of speaking out against hate, while teachers highlighted the lasting impression of the sessions on learners, noting continued discussion weeks after delivery. Educators also valued the engaging and thought-provoking nature of the workshops, as well as their contribution to teamwork and critical reflection. Teacher training participants described the experience as invigorating and impactful, helping them to better understand the perspectives of pupils and equipping them with greater confidence to address sensitive issues in the classroom.

At the conclusion of the project, recommendations for the Welsh Government included aligning the project more closely with the Charlotte Williams report on curriculum reform, ensuring greater collaboration between policy areas such as Equalities and Education, and making fuller use of the supporting resource pack developed alongside the Curriculum for Wales. It is also suggested that the report’s findings be shared more widely, including with local authorities and Estyn, to maximise its impact and inform future practice.