In a speech to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Annual Conference in Liverpool, he will say: “Perhaps these attitudes never really disappeared – but simply remained hidden in the shadows. However, it feels that things are now said and done in plain sight that would not have been said or done a few years ago.”

He will continue: “I worry when I see some politicians speaking about immigration as a problem that needs to be solved, indulging in some sort of arms race about how tough they are going to be on those who come to our country seeking asylum.

“I worry when I see flags tied to lampposts – as we did last summer – something which seems more like a brand of provocative nationalism than of proud patriotism.

“And I worry about the role that social media platforms play in amplifying these divisions – allowing people with strong views to retreat into echo chambers where those views are endlessly reinforced.

“I recognise that others may have a different view. They may feel this is merely a case of citizens exercising their right to free speech and airing matters of legitimate concern.

“But I would encourage everyone to take care with the language they use. Words and actions have consequences in the real world.

“They create an environment in which we see many of our students, staff and families living in fear, and facing racial harassment or even violence.”

His warning comes as an ASCL survey of 567 school and college leaders shows more than a third (38%) report that students or staff have expressed fears that they or their families are at risk of racial harassment or attack in their local community over the past 12 months

Furthermore, 36% of respondents say students or staff have experienced racial harassment while travelling to or from school, 11% say this has involved physical attacks, and 60% report that staff or students have been harassed in school.

Forty per cent say that racist incidents affecting students or staff have increased over the past 12 months compared with the previous year.

Senior leaders most commonly cite that the factors causing them concern are tensions fuelled by social media content, anti-immigration rhetoric in domestic politics, and campaigns to display St George’s Cross and Union flags on lampposts.

Asked what actions could be taken to help address racist attitudes and behaviour, 90% say stronger regulation of social media platforms, 83% say greater care by politicians in the language used around immigration, and 59% call for clearer and stronger government guidance and resources for schools, colleges and trusts on responding to community tensions.

Mr Di’Iasio will say: “I do not pretend that there are easy answers to these challenges. But I do believe there is a role for government to play in discussing with the profession how we respond. And I certainly think that social media platforms must take far greater responsibility for policing their platforms and removing toxic content. 

“If they are not going to do that voluntarily, they should be made to do so through regulation.”

The ASCL survey also examined other forms of discriminatory behaviour and found that 81% of respondents reported that students or staff had experienced sexism, including misogyny, over the past 12 months, 48% sexual orientation-based discrimination, and 45% religious discrimination, including Islamophobia and antisemitism.

The full text of the ASCL General Secretary’s speech is here.

The ASCL Annual Conference 2026 is taking place at the ACC Liverpool on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 March and is attended by around 1,000 education leaders.

Survey results
The ASCL survey on the prevalence of racism and other forms of discrimination was sent to members in senior leadership roles in state-funded and independent schools, trusts, and colleges in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland in February 2026. Most respondents were from state-funded secondary and all-through schools (78%).

The survey received 567 responses.

Q. In the past 12 months, have you experienced any of the following in relation to pupils, students or staff in your school, college, or trust? (Indicate all that apply)
 

			Response %		Response total
Pupils, students or staff expressing fears that they or their families are at risk of racial harassment or attack in their local community			37.74%		214
Pupils, students or staff experiencing racial harassment while travelling to or from school or college			35.98%		204
Pupils, students or staff experiencing racially motivated physical attacks while travelling to or from school or college			10.58%		60
Pupils, students or staff experiencing racial harassment within school or college			59.79%		339
Pupils, students or staff experiencing racially motivated physical attacks within school or college			7.94%		45
None of the above			21.52%		122
Answered					567

Q. Which statement best reflects your experience over the past 12 months?
 

			Response %		Response total
Racist incidents affecting pupils, students or staff have increased compared with the previous year			39.86%		226
Racist incidents affecting pupils, students or staff have remained at a similar level compared with the previous year			36.16%		205
Racist incidents affecting pupils, students or staff have decreased compared with the previous year			6.88%		39
Unsure			8.82%		50
I have not experienced racist incidents affecting pupils, students or staff			8.29%		47
Answered					567

Q. Which factors, if any, have caused you concern about their impact on community cohesion in your local area over the past 12 months? (Indicate all that apply)
 

			Response %		Response total
Tensions fuelled by content shared on social media			70.90%		402
Anti-immigration rhetoric in domestic politics			69.14%		392
Conflicts and tensions in other countries			41.62%		236
Local incidents of hate crime or racial abuse			25.57%		145
Media coverage of racial or cultural issues			50.97%		289
Extremist activity locally			20.11%		114
Campaigns to display St George’s Cross and Union flags on lampposts			56.97%		323
Other factors not listed			6.70%		38
I have no concerns about community cohesion in my local area			4.76%		27
Answered					567

Q. Over the past 12 months, in your experience, have pupils, students or staff experienced other forms of discriminatory behaviour, either within your setting or in the wider community? (Indicate all that apply)
 

			Response %		Response total
Sexism (including misogyny)			80.78%		458
Sexual orientation-based discrimination			47.8%		271
Gender identity-based discrimination (including transphobia)			32.80%		186
Religious discrimination (including Islamophobia and antisemitism)			44.97%		255
Disability or SEND-related discrimination			35.63%		202
Socio-economic disadvantage / class-based discrimination			29.63%		168
None of the above			9.88%		56
Answered					567