Almost a quarter of state school pupils are from an ethnic minority
This article made me think about the distribution of ethnic minorities more generally in rural England and the limited research which has been done in the context of ethnicity and rurality.
In terms of schools it reveals
“Some 24.3% of pupils in state primaries and secondaries are from an ethnic minority, according to figures collected in January and published by the Department for Education (DfE). Five years ago, the proportion was 19.8%. In primary schools, 26.5% of pupils are from an ethnic minority, compared with 21.9% five years ago. In secondaries, 22.2% of pupils are from an ethnic minority, compared with 17.7% five years ago.
The statistics, taken from the School Census and surveys completed by local authorities, show the proportion of pupils whose first language is not English has risen to 16.8% in primary schools, from 13.5% five years ago.In secondaries, the proportion of pupils whose first language is not English is 12.3%, compared with 10.5% five years ago. In the east London boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Newham, the proportion of primary school pupils whose first language is not English is 78% and 74% respectively.
A spokesman from the DfE said that pupils whose mother tongue was not English did not necessarily have poor English skills. “The evidence is clear that once English is established, children catch up and even overtake their peers,” he said.”
I know that in parts of West Yorkshire for example there has been a significant spread of ethnic minorities in rural areas with all the benefits that their diversity brings to communities. I also know that in many other parts of rural England the proportion of ethnnic minorities is far lower than the national average. Is immigration mainly an urban phenomenon still or should we be thinking differently about it is a key dynamic in the evolution of rural communities? Particulary in this places which might be characterised as “metro-rural” on the fringes of our cities?