White British children ‘a minority’

Just one in 10 schoolchildren in some parts of England are of white British origin as growing numbers come from ethnic minority backgrounds.

More than a fifth of pupils are now of ethnic minority origin while an increasing proportion do not speak English as their first language.

The latest figures from the Department for Children, Schools and Families revealed dramatic variations in the ethnic make-up of school populations across England.

The proportion of ethnic minority pupils was higher in primary schools than secondaries, according to the January 2007 school census.

In Tower Hamlets, east London, just under 15% of primary school children were classed as white British, compared to 63% who were Bangladeshi Asian.

In Newham, also in east London, just under 12% of primary pupils were white British but in Bromley, in the south of the city, the figure was 79%.

In Brent secondary schools in north-west London, just 7% of pupils were of white British origin - 36% were classed as Asian, and 24% black.

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Source:
The Press Association