EDUCATION bosses insist that they are making progress in tackling racist incidents in Darlington schools despite a rise the number of cases.

In the last school year, there were 75 racial incidents reported to the local education authority compared to 47 in the previous year.

The figures were recorded in 16 schools and Darlington Borough Council said the increase suggested that there was now a greater awareness about the issues and the need to report incidents.

A report to cabinet members, to be considered next Tuesday, says further action was taken by headteachers or senior staff in every case.

This included discussions with both victims and perpetrators, counselling, meetings with parents, informing police and exclusions for offenders.

There were 54 suspected male perpetrators and 21 female. Of the victims, 39 were male and 30 female, as well as mixed groups.

Figures showing the nature of the incidents revealed that there were 39 cases of name calling, 19 of racist comments, 15 of racist abuse, one of racist graffiti and one other matter.

Director of education Geoff Pennington said the rise had been expected.

"As awareness of these issues increases in schools, the number of reported cases will rise," he said.

"It is not possible to say when the reporting of incidents will either plateau or even fall.

"However, officers feel that an increase in reporting indicates greater awareness of the issues and intolerance of racist behaviour."

Mr Pennington said a great deal of work had gone into informing pupils, staff and governors about racial issues.

Youngsters have been given information packs looking at prejudice and discrimination and pupils have also produced their own leaflets about challenging racism.

Ensuring that racist incidents in schools were recorded was a key recommendation of the MacPherson Report, published after the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence in London.