Four children a week excluded for racism in Black Country schools

The data, compiled by New Schools Network, revealed that there were 160 cases across Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell schools which were serious enough to warrant a fixed or permanent exclusion in the 2014-15 academic year.

Across the West Midlands there were 600 cases and since 2008-09, the region has seen almost 4,000 exclusions for racist abuse.

The West Midlands has the highest proportion of exclusions because of racist abuse in England. In 2014-15, there were 4,000 cases of racist abuse, amounting to 20 exclusions a day.

Dudley had the most, with 60 children being excluded. Of all children excluded from school in the area, 2.84 per cent were removed due to racist abuse.

In Wolverhampton, 30 children were excluded, a percentage of 2.56. Walsall had 40 children excluded, 1.97 per cent of all children excluded in the area, and Sandwell had 30 children excluded, 1.38 per cent.

Councillor Claire Darke, Wolverhampton council cabinet member for education, said: "It's a very important issue, it needs challenging. I think it needs direct action.

"It's something that does still come up, but I do think Wolverhampton has done a lot to challenge racism in our community.

"We have such a diverse community that works hard to be harmonious.

"It always disappointing when that message doesn't get across to children and things come out in school."

The analysis comes as New Schools Network has successfully argued for a new category of 'social need' to be part of the free school application criteria.

This means that free school proposals will now be considered for approval if there is a proven 'social need' for the new school.

One of the benefits of this new category is that proposals can now be brought forward with the explicit intention of creating more integrated schools in areas where existing schools are often divided on racial lines.