In light of the shocking experience of child Q, Angelina Idun considers the responsibility schools have for tackling discrimination and reflects on how listening to our young people can help us move our race equality work forward


The story of child Q that hit the news recently will have alarmed and outraged us all. On so many levels. Our hearts go out to the child involved and to her family.

Child Q is a black pupil who was strip-searched at her school in east London after being wrongly suspected of carrying drugs. The idea that a council report (CHSCP, 2022) cited racism as a likely factor in child Q’s treatment is immensely concerning and upsetting.

The government’s 2021 Sewell Report denied the existence of institutional racism (Runnymede Trust, 2021). The terrible incident that this young person has had to endure, is another reminder that institutional racism does exist.

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