The Department for Education and Skills has published new guidelines for schools on tackling racist bullying. The recently published Education and Schools Inspections Bill will give teachers a legal right to discipline pupils, strengthening their authority to take firm action on bullying. It will also send a strong message to parents and pupils that bullying will not be tolerated with court-imposed parenting orders to compel parents of bullies to attend parenting classes or face £1000 fines.

Developed in partnership with anti-racist organisations, schools, local authorities, professional associations, community and voluntary sector groups and young people themselves, the guidelines offer suggestions for lessons, staff training and anti-bullying strategies to help schools identify and prevent racist bullying and deal with it robustly should it occur. Research sponsored by the Department for Education and Skills in mainly white schools found that 25 per cent of the pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds in the sample had experienced racist name-calling within the previous seven days.

As part of anti-bullying projects in schools, young people could for example study the life story of American anti-segregation campaigner Rosa Parks; the contribution made by Commonwealth soldiers to World War II; or football anti-racism campaigns. Learners on the latter program visit the anti-racism website of Sheffield United and make a list of issues relating to the eradication of racism on football terraces, drawing up a code of conduct for themselves to tackle racist bullying.

Schools Minister Jacqui Smith said: "No child should have to experience bullying of any kind, and tackling racist bullying in schools is a key priority. These guidelines will form a key part of schools' compulsory anti-bullying policies, help them create an ethos where racist bullying rarely happens, and ensure that it will be dealt with convincingly if it does."

The guidelines will be supported by a nationwide series of workshops for schools starting this month, where leading teachers and organisations in tackling racist bullying will promote effective practice in tackling bullying and promoting race equality.

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