SCHOOLS will not have to set race-based quotas for pupil admissions to ensure they are in line with new equality laws, the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) said. But it added that single-race schools in mixed areas will have to ask themselves why they are not attracting pupils from different backgrounds. Heads had claimed that new guidance required schools to fix quotas to ensure pupils reflect the racial mix of the local area. Gurbux Singh, CRE chairman, said the emphasis is on encouragement and not on a formal quota system. See next week’s TES for Gurbux Singh’s full response.

* For copies of the code and related guidance see www.cre.gov.uk