Pupils who speak English as their first language are now in a minority in nearly a third of Bradford schools.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show 67 of the district's schools must teach the majority of their pupils basic language skills before they can start vital academic work.

But MPs and education experts are divided about the overall impact on the performance of the district's schools - though all highlight the importance of learning English.

Philip Davies, Shipley Conservative MP, who has raised the issue in Parliament, said many teachers were now in an "impossible situation".

And Keighley Labour MP Ann Cryer warned the increasing East European migrant population was putting the district's education system under strain.

But Bradford Council education experts have pointed out that the district's indigenous working class boys were the major under-achievers.

Evidence linking children who start school as non-English speakers and poor academic performance was "very weak".

Mr Davies said it was imperative that people learned English as increasing numbers of migrant children join the schools system. He said: "I just find it absolutely appalling - where on earth are teachers supposed to go from there? It's just impossible.

It is no wonder schools in Bradford perform so low down the national league table. "It's an absolute nightmare and I think far more should be done to encourage parents to speak English." "Something radical needs to be done and I would not be averse to taking people out of the education system until they can speak English."

Mrs Cryer said parents who sent their children to the district's schools without English language skills were discriminating against their own children.

"Mums and dads need to speak English so that their children are not disadvantaged," she said. "If not there is a price to pay - their children will be slow to get into other lessons."

But Councillor David Ward, Bradford Liberal Democrat group's education spokesman, said research had shown the link between pupils who spoke English as a second language and poor academic attainment "was very weak". He said: "If you look at Bradford the main group that under-achieves most is white, working class boys."We should be focusing on deprived areas."

Councillor Ralph Berry, Bradford Labour group education spokesman, agreed.
He said: "There are challenges with some of the newer languages we are seeing but I certainly would not want to link language with ability," he said.

As previously reported in the T&A, primary schools listed 15,489 pupils (39.8 per cent) who were not native English speakers on their registers this year, compared with 14,799 (38.1 per cent) in 2006. And secondary schools district-wide recorded 11,220 pupils (33 per cent) who did not speak English as their first language, compared to 11,032 (32.2 per cent) in 2006.

However, both Education Bradford and Bradford Council have allocated substantial resources to supporting children with poor English language skills. And some schools identified as having a majority of children without English as a first language are still achieving high standards.

Secondary schools Carlton Bolling College and Grange Technology College, which both have almost 90 per cent of pupils without English as a first language, have received "outstanding" Ofsted reports over the last 12 months.

Copthorne Primary, where 97 per cent of pupils do not speak English as a first language, was also given the elite rating by school inspectors.

Copthorne head teacher, Naila Zaffar, said many of her pupils arrived from disadvantaged backgrounds with poor English skills - yet still achieved.
"Background is not a bar to progress," said Mrs Zaffar. "We employ nursery and teaching assistants who target children with poor language skills from all backgrounds and it's amazing to see their progress."

Other schools rated as outstanding by Ofsted with more than 50 per cent of children without English as a first language include Newby Primary, Killinghall Primary, Canterbury Nursery School and Centre for Children and Families and Midland Road Nursery.

Bradford has also been recognised as a hub authority' by the Department for Children, Schools and Families because of its work to ensure pupils with poor language skills are given targeted support.

The authority receives an annual ethnic minority achievement grant of £7 million from the Government, which is devolved to schools.

Education Bradford runs a team of six consultants and 12 teachers who work with primary schools throughout the district to improve the language skills of new starters.

A DCSF spokesman said: "We have listened to concerns and are increasing funding in the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant to £206m by 2010.

"Alongside that we've also introduced new guidance for teachers to work with new arrivals. "We recently carried out a consultation on how to release funding when needed - for example during the term, if an influx of migrant children arrive. There's actually surplus money in the school system to deal with any such exceptional circumstances'."

By comparison 11.9 per cent of primary school pupils in Leeds did not have English as their first language, 23 per cent in Kirklees and 11.9 per cent in Calderdale.



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