Children were 'ordered to line up according to skin colour in class which led to 'blackest' child being picked on and teased'

Cl ass told to 'organise themselves 'from the darkest to the lightest'

The children were in year six and aged between 10 and 11

One horri fied parent said: 'I think it is highly inappropriate '

It happened at Ryelands Primary School in Norwood, south London

Children were told to line up according to their skin colour as part of a primary school lesson – with one boy later picked on because he was said to be the 'blackest'.

Teachers at the school in South-East London told a class of around 30 children to 'organise themselves from the darkest to the lightest'.

The year six children are aged between ten and 11 and school bosses said the exercise which took place last Wednesday helped them learn about ethnic diversity.

Teachers at Ryelands Primary School in South Norwood, south London, told a class to 'line up according to their skin colour'

Parents said they were shocked when their children came home and told them about that day's lessons.

They criticised the exercise as 'highly inappropriate' and said one pupil ended up being picked on because of his skin colour.

One child's mother, who asked not to be named, said: 'Parents have told me children laughed at one child because he was “the blackest” and argued about who was darker and who was lighter.

'This is not something that you want to be happening in your school. I would be mortified if it was my child. I think it is highly inappropriate. Parents have complained but the school did not apologise for it, they tried to explain it away.'

Ryelands Primary School in South Norwood was inspected by Ofsted in February and placed in special measures after being rated as inadequate.

It was taken over by Oasis Community Learning and last Thursday became an academy. Another parent, who asked not to be named, said: 'How can they think lining up children according to their skin colour is educational?

Ofsted inspected the school in February this year and it was rated 'inadequate' and placed in special measures

'This is totally ridiculous and I am ashamed to say my child is in this school – I'm only glad my son only has another year to go before he can move to another school.'

Oasis Community Learning defended the lesson, saying it was designed to prepare children for secondary school by encouraging them to talk about 'ethnic diversity'.

A spokesman said: 'Inclusion is our raison d'etre and we are very committed to equality. In this instance, it was about celebrated differences and saying it is OK to talk about them in a positive way but recognising we are all the same underneath.

'We fully support the teaching assistants that were involved but of course we are always willing to listen to feedback about how we do things in the future.'

The school's website states that it 'aspires to treat everyone inclusively and recognises the importance of a holistic approach to education'.

Its 'vision and values statement' says: 'At Ryelands we aim for all our children to achieve their best in a safe and stimulating environment.

'The Ryelands learning community also aims to develop and encourage mutual respect, self confidence, co-operation and self-motivation.

'We encourage our children to be enthusiastic and independent learners who engage in the world around them with enquiring minds and compassionate hearts.'

As well as that, the school says that it aims to 'foster respect, tolerance and love for others, regardless of race, gender, religion or difference, within a framework of equality of opportunity and fairness'.