'Lacking English' for a fifth of pupils

Date published: 18 March 2009

More than a fifth of primary school pupils in Rochdale don't speak English as a first language.

Shadow immigration minister Damian Green has described the number of pupils across the country that do not speak English as a first language as 'shocking'.

21.5% of pupils in schools in Rochdale have a different first language; the average in the country is 14.4%.

19.% of Rochdale's secondary school pupils do not speak English as a first language; which is the third highest percentage of the ten Greater Manchester authorities. The average for the whole of England is 10.8%.

The shadow immigration minister said: "These shocking figures illustrate how difficult life is for many teachers because of the government's long-term failure to control immigration.

"The number of pupils with English as a second language makes life difficult for teachers, parents and pupils.

"Whether or not they can speak English, everyone suffers when it's more difficult for teachers in the classroom."