The best way to deal with such problems is to bring them out in the open, to discuss them and ensure that all involved understand that racism is not acceptable

Doug McAvoy, NUT

At Villiers High School in Southall, west London, pupils are from many different ethnic backgrounds, including Afghan.

Head teacher Juliet Strang told BBC News Online there had been no conflict over the attacks on America, but said teachers were keeping a close eye on what went on in the playground to head off any possible trouble.

"There has been no conflict but we have taken some children aside to discuss things with them.

"We have obviously got a lot of Muslim students and we have to be sensitive about how they must be feeling because Islamic fundementalist terrorists are being blamed.

"We are trying to keep everything low-key and calm and to balance the need for children to express themselves without that getting out of hand."

The head teacher said the whole school had observed the three minute silence and it had held its own two-minute silence the day after the attacks on America.

Many schools have tackled the issues around the attacks during assemblies or general lessons.

At another secondary school in Ealing, west London the head teacher said children were being asked to think about how they could make a better world.

Pupils at the school have diverse backgrounds and many are Muslims.

The head teacher told BBC News Online: "At year assemblies I have said we should think about how we relate to each other and look after each other and how the attacks showed the dire consequences if we don't.

"We have a large number of Muslims here and the kind of rhetoric that was being thrown around was very confrontational."

He said all pupils had observed the three minute silence.

Vigilant

The NUT says teachers should be especially vigilant for signs of name calling, abuse and bullying, particularly of Muslim pupils, and any tension between pupils from different ethnic groups.

It says early intervention by teachers will help diffuse the situation before it escalates. � The Union adds that "no attempt should be made to take a politically partisan approach or one which belittles a particular set of opinions".

It is advising teachers: "A balanced approach to any discussion will allow all pupils to participate and benefit."

John Dunford, the general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association says schools must deal with any problems of racial tension in their own way.

He said: "It is an enormously difficult situation for schools to be placed in.

"Politicians and the media have to be very careful about what they say so that schools can continue to promote racial harmony - which they do very well."