THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Thursday, May 28, 2026

The day before York Pride, new figures show 204 children have been suspended from York schools for racist, homophobic and ableist abuse - the NEU says it reflects a wider climate in society. The York and Scarborough hospitals chief executive said the current care model is "not sustainable" at yesterday's board meeting. Financial investigators have been brought in to examine Brierley Homes. Morrisons has confirmed its York store closing. A cowboy bar has opened in York. And Matt Haig held a book club on an LNER train arriving into York.

🌈 Lead - Eve of York Pride

🌈 204 children suspended from York schools over racist and homophobic abuse - the day before York Pride- New figures from the Department for Education - analysed by the BBC Shared Data Unit - reveal that 204 suspensions and exclusions at state-run York schools between the autumn term of 2021-22 and the spring term of 2024-25 were linked to racist, homophobic and ableist abuse. That is part of a 68% national rise in discrimination-related suspensions over the same period. The York breakdown: 152 suspensions and one exclusion linked to racism; 41 suspensions related to sexuality; 10 suspensions linked to disability abuse. Nationally there were nearly 55,000 suspensions linked to racism, 13,000 linked to homophobia or transphobia and 1,600 linked to ableism. The figures land the day before York Pride — Saturday 30 May on the Knavesmire - where the city will celebrate the communities that some of those children were being suspended for abusing. Gazette Herald | YorkMix