Colourism, hair-based bullying and identity-based bullying in UK schools

Identity-based bullying is different from other bullying because it doesn’t just attack a child — it attacks who the child is. A child who’s called names because they wear glasses can take off the glasses (in theory). A child who’s targeted for their skin colour, hair, faith, or accent cannot change who they are — and shouldn’t have to. This article focuses on the specific experiences of Black and diaspora children in UK schools, and how parents can respond.

What counts as identity-based bullying?

Under the Equality Act 2010, there are nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. Bullying that targets any of these is not just bullying — it’s discrimination, and schools have a legal duty to address it under their Public Sector Equality Duty.

In practice, identity-based bullying in UK schools commonly looks like:

• Racist name-calling, ‘jokes’, or stereotypes
• Colourism — lighter-skinned children being favoured, darker-skinned children being mocked, sometimes within the same community
• Hair-based bullying — comments about afros, braids, locs, or extensions; being told natural hair is ‘unprofessional’ or against school policy
• Faith-based bullying — mocking prayer, dietary restrictions, fasting, religious dress, or religious holidays
• Accent and language mocking — being told to ‘speak proper English’ or mocked for speaking Pidgin, Yoruba, Twi, or another heritage language
• Tribalism or national-origin bullying — within African and Caribbean communities, children can be targeted for being Nigerian vs Ghanaian, Jamaican vs Somali, etc.
• Microaggressions — being asked to touch someone’s hair, being told ‘you’re pretty for a Black girl’, being assumed to be the aggressive one in conflicts

Hair policies and the law

School hair policies have been a flashpoint in recent years. Some schools have banned afros, cornrows, braids, or locs — either explicitly or through vague ‘tidy hair’ rules that disproportionately affect Black children. In 2022, the Equality and Human Rights Commission published guidance making clear that hair policies that discriminate against Afro-textured hair are likely unlawful. If your child’s school has such a policy, you can challenge it — and you have legal ground to stand on.

If your child is being bullied about their hair, document it. Note the language used, who said it, and how the school responded. Hair-based bullying is a form of race discrimination, and schools must take it as seriously as racist name-calling.

Colourism within communities

Colourism — discrimination based on skin shade, usually favouring lighter skin — is a particularly painful form of identity-based bullying because it often happens within communities, not just between them. A Black child can be mocked by other Black children for being ‘too dark’. A mixed-heritage child can be told they’re ‘not really Black’ or ‘not really white’. This kind of bullying can be hard for schools to recognise because it doesn’t fit the white-on-Black frame they’re used to looking for.

If your child is experiencing colourism, name it for what it is. Help your child understand that colourism has deep historical roots (in colonialism, in the transatlantic slave trade, in colourist beauty standards promoted by media) and that it’s not about them — it’s about internalised racism they didn’t create. Surround them with media, books, and community that celebrate the full range of Black beauty.

Your rights under the Equality Act

If your child is experiencing identity-based bullying, the school has specific legal duties:

• They must take it as seriously as — if not more seriously than — other bullying
• They must investigate and address the discriminatory element specifically
• They must consider whether the bullying constitutes harassment under the Equality Act (which it often does)
• They must record racist incidents and report them to their local authority (in most areas)
• They must not dismiss it as ‘banter’ or ‘children being children’

If the school fails to address identity-based bullying, you have stronger escalation routes than with general bullying. You can:

• Make a formal complaint through the school’s complaints policy
• Contact your local authority’s education department
• Contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) on 0808 800 0082
• In serious cases, consider a discrimination claim (this is a significant step — seek advice from a solicitor or organisations like Race Equality First)

How to advocate effectively

When you raise identity-based bullying with the school, be specific about the legal framework. Reference the Equality Act 2010. Ask whether the incident has been recorded as a racist incident. Request a written response within a specific timeframe. If the school minimises it (‘children will be children’), gently but firmly correct them: ‘This isn’t children being children — this is race-based harassment, and the school has a legal duty to address it as such.’

It’s also worth asking what the school is doing proactively — not just reactively. Do they have an anti-racism policy? Do they teach about colonialism, migration, and Black British history? Do they mark Black History Month meaningfully? Do they have diverse books in the library? Reactive discipline matters, but a school that takes identity seriously is one that’s working to prevent the bullying in the first place.

Supporting your child

Identity-based bullying can damage a child’s sense of who they are in ways that take years to surface. Counter it deliberately:

• Talk openly about race, colourism, and racism at home — don’t leave your child to figure it out alone
• Surround them with positive representation — books, films, and shows that centre Black joy, not just Black suffering
• Connect them with community — supplementary schools, cultural associations, faith communities, or youth groups where they’re part of the majority
• Validate their anger and hurt — don’t rush to ‘be the bigger person’. Let them feel it.
• Get professional support if needed — a culturally competent therapist can help your child process identity-based harm