THE number of racist incidents reported in Kent schools is rising, the Courier can reveal.
Figures obtained by the Courier show in 2010/11 there were 929 racist incidents reported at state schools across the county, compared to 874 the previous year. This included 414 reports from primary schools.
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ROBUST POLICIES: Skinners' Kent Academy principal Sian Carr
Mascalls School, in Paddock Wood, recorded the second highest number of incidents in the county, with 25 in 2010/11, 24 more than the year before.
Mark Waller, who retired as deputy head after 22 years at Mascalls on Friday, last week, said the school has a "zero-tolerance" policy towards racism. "This means staff record and follow up every instance," he said.
"We are aware this tends to mean that the number of recorded instances is artificially high, but we believe it is right to maintain a high level of vigilance with regard to this important issue.
"For example, if a student is heard referring to the traveller community using an offensive term, we will treat that as a racist remark and the offending student may expect a robust response and the offence to be recorded.
"As a result we find that most students become very aware of racist issues and it is not in any way a problem in the school."
Elsewhere in the borough Skinners' Kent Academy in Tunbridge Wells had 25 incidents across the two years.
However, principal Sian Carr insisted the 2011/12 academic year had seen zero incidents and that previous figures reflected "the situation inherited from the predecessor school".
She said: "Our robust behaviour policies ensure unacceptable behaviour of any kind is taken seriously and rigorously dealt with."
In total there were 122 incidents recorded in Tunbridge Wells schools over the last two years.
Incidents in the borough of Tonbridge and Malling increased from 51 to 60, while Edenbridge Primary School recorded 25 incidents in two years.
Name calling and verbal abuse were the two most common categories of racism logged in primary, secondary, special and Pupil Referral Units, for children who cannot attend mainstream schools.
In 2009/10 there were 135 more incidents in primary than secondary schools, but this changed the following year when there were 37 more in secondary.
Source: www.thisiskent.co.uk
Asda promotes Scottish store with a picture of English rolling hills 300 miles away - Daily Mail
- Picture advertising local produce is actually of Wansfell, in the Lake District
- Company says 'they never said photo was of Scotland'
By Anna Edwards
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The ASDA promotional leaflet which used a photo of the Lake District to promote Scottish food
In an attempt to promote its stores North of the Border, Asda decided that a picture of the rolling countryside would help show its commitment to locally sourced produce.
But there may be some questioning its 'local' credentials after it emerged the idyllic scene of green hills, dry-stone walls and blue water was actually from the Lake District - 300 miles away in England.
The supermarket has admitted using the image to promote its flagship Inverness store.
The picture, which was actually taken in Wansfell, near Ambleside in Cumbria, featured in a six-page brochure given away to households near the chain’s new 27million store.
Llocal businessman Jo Hunt, who spotted the embarrassing error, said: 'I recognised the house in the picture because friends of mine lived there.
'I was surprised to see it but I find it funny rather than anything else.'
Lake District National Park spokesman Mick Casey agreed: 'It looks like Wansfell to me, on the way up to Kirkstone Pass Inn.'
An Asda spokesman tried to deflect embarrassment by pointing out the supermarket did not claim to be picturing Scotland.
He said the image was a stock photo and added: 'It doesn’t say in the leaflet that the image is from the Highlands.
Blooper: The picture shown here is actually of Wansfell in the Lake District, England that is 300 miles away
'We have used it since last year and it has gone in front of a lot of people and we have never had this before.
'To me, and I’m not an expert, it looks like a field with a bit of wall and it could be in one of many places.
'We should focus on the fact that we are working with local suppliers and we are not coming in being all talk and no trousers - we are walking the walk.'
It's another humiliating moment for the supermarket, which has been fiercely attacked for its part in the milk scandal which saw dairy farmers protesting that they were not being paid enough to cover their costs.
Only one minor detail spoilt the scene - the photograph was actually taken in the very English Lake District
Dairy farmers were furious about cuts of up to 2p a litre in the amount they receive from major milk processors and many feared the shortfall will force them out of business.
Asda, Morrisons and the Co-operative caved in to pressure and announced they would increase the prices they paid to suppliers.
All raised their fees, which will be passed on to the dairy producers.
A litre of milk costs at least 30p to produce, but many dairy farmers say they are being paid as little as 24p. Most are locked into 12-month contracts so cannot try to get better prices elsewhere.
In July Asda raised payments to 27.5p a litre, while Morrisons put its payments up to 31p a litre. The Co-operative Group increased its fee to 29p per litre.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Teenager killed in Kent hit-and-run - Daily Telegraph
The victim, named locally as Kyle Coen, was riding along the A2 London Road near Sittingbourne, Kent, when he was struck by a grey Fiat Bravo at about 9.15pm last night.
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
ASDA puts the Scottish flag on Scottish produce, the Welsh flag on Welsh produce, nothing wrong with that, however English produce is labelled 'British' and has the 'British' flag on it, ASDA say this is because these products 'would not sell' in Scotland and Wales if they had the English flag on and were labelled correctly as being English. - John Bailey, Preston E*gla*d, 31/7/2012 13:29++++++++That is why I now refuse to but any produce that has "their" flags on them. Now, unless anyone from those other UK Countries can categorically state that isn't the case I'll start buying again, but would I believe them?
- Dave, Hastings, East Sussex England, 31/7/2012 14:52
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