The inspectorate has already published a hard-hitting report on race equality in further education colleges and HMI’s interest stems from the new statutory obligation to monitor this area.

Inspectors have called in outside consultants to help HMI erase any institutional racism on its part and to advise on staff development.

The news comes as a young people’s conference in Glasgow last week heard an uncompromising message from Sir William McPherson of Cluny, who conducted the inquiry into the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.

Sir William said that racism and intolerance have to be tackled “head on” in schools. A study in Cardiff found that half of all reported racial incidents involve young people under the age of 16 - many of them between the ages of six and 10.

The conference, organised by Children in Scotland and the Commission for Racial Equality, was celebrating 25 years of the Race Relations Act, a piece of legislation that should in time become less important if young people discuss issues openly, Sir William said.

Cathy Jamieson, Education and Young People Minister, said children and young people had to be part of the solution. “They want to know more about some of the problems facing refugees and asylum-seekers. They want to talk about and challenge discrimination wherever it occurs,” Ms Jamieson said.

Zamar Zahid, a homelink teacher at Shawlands Academy in Glasgow who set up a critical discussion group outside school for pupils to look at global issues, said: “We discuss issues that are relevant and important to young people as black kids and how they can be politically active and affect decision-makers.”