ESL numbers up by 73%

Pupils who speak English as their first language are now in a minority in more than 1,300 primary schools.

The figure is up 73 per cent compared to a decade ago, but there are strong geographical variations. Inner London schools have highest numbers of children speaking English as a second language at 53%.

The findings follow concerns raised by head teachers that schools are struggling to cope with increasing numbers of children who need language support.

The figures were obtained this week by the Daily Telegraph under the Freedom of Information Act.

Brighter poor children losing ground

Bright children from poorer backgrounds are being overtaken by their more affluent counterparts as they grow older, a report has found.

Although declining social mobility since the 1970s has now stabilised, Britain was ranked bottom of developed countries on comparisons of social mobility.

Children’s life chances were found to be overwhelmingly determined by the income and status of their parents.

Scores in developmental tests for children from the poorest 20 per cent of families fell from 88 per cent at age three to 65 per cent at age five.

But scores for the least able children from the richest families moved up from 15 per cent at age three to 45 per cent at age five.

If this trend continued, the least bright but richer children would have overtaken the poorer but brighter children by the age of seven.

The same inequalities persisted to further education, with 44 per cent of young people from the richest 20 per cent of families obtaining a degree, compared to only 10 per cent from the poorest 20 per cent of families.

The report was produced by children’s charity the Sutton Trust and the London School of Economics.

Recent Changes in Intergenerational Mobility in the UK

Ofsted plans surprise inspections

Schools may be subject to “lightning inspections” under plans being considered by Ofsted.

A pilot project will see inspectors visit schools unannounced.

Inspectors could go in to schools following concerns raised by parents about teaching standards, said Chief Inspector of Education, Christine Gilbert, to the Schools Select Committee in Parliament.

The current notice period is 48 hours, but Ofsted believe that could allow some schools to rehearse specially prepared lessons.

Changes could come in from 2009.

Authors call for literacy push

More than 500 authors have written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, urging him to act over child illiteracy.

Signatories, including Nick Hornby, Ian Rankin, Jackie Collins and Poet Laureate Andrew Motion, called for children to be taught to read for an hour every day.

An extract from the letter read: "We are deeply concerned at the low levels of childhood literacy across Britain. In a complex world, reading has become increasingly important - if not crucial.

"The prime minister has said that 'every child is special, every child precious and therefore no child should be left behind'. It's time to focus on the push to get all our kids reading in order to make this happen."

"More talking please"

Talking and interacting with other children is an essential part of the school day, a Primary Review report has found.

Social interaction is essential to child development but schools have rarely done enough to support it, says the report, part of the biggest enquiry into primary education for 40 years.

It also highlights the role of parents, teaching staff, peers and everyone who has contact with children as being crucial to children’s social development and learning.

Children's social development, peer interaction and classroom learning

Children to get more play space

More than 3,500 playgrounds in deprived areas will be built or upgraded over the next three years and 30 new supervised adventure playgrounds built.

Under the government’s ten year Children’s Plan, launched this week, more activities for children, such as sport, drama, music and art will be provided in new youth centres, with £160 million of funding.

The far reaching plan includes free childcare for 20,000 two year olds in deprived areas.

The primary curriculum is to be reviewed, with time set aside for learning a foreign language, and SATS may be replaced with a new curriculum testing system based on the stage a child has reached rather than their age. Children born in the summer will get extra help.

Schools will also be expected to involve parents more closely in their children’s education, and to provide more services to support families.

In a separate proposal, poor families throughout England will be able to get free or cheap home safety equipment.

£18 million over three years will be spent on equipment such as stairgates, electric socket covers and fireguards.

SATs results improve

More children achieved the level expected for their age in the latest Key Stage 2 SATS tests. But headteachers have said the tests put schools and children under too much pressure, and should be scrapped.

Four out of five 11-year-olds achieved the target of at least level 4 in English, 77% in maths and 88% in science.

But five schools were stripped of their results for breaking the rules.

Head teachers’ leader Mick Brookes said the cheating showed how much pressure schools were under.

The National Association of Head Teachers said that “at their best the tests show where rich people live.”

“We congratulate all schools for the progress they have made this year despite intervention from Government initiatives and imperatives that do not drive up standards, but drive up bureaucracy and reduce capacity.”

National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stage 2 in England, 2007 (Revised)

More help for dyslexic children

Children with dyslexia will receive more support as part of a £3 million government pilot scheme.

Pupils in 10 local authority areas will receive one-to-one tuition from specialist dyslexia teachers.

If the scheme proves successful it will be continued across the country.

Charities Dyslexia Action and the British Dyslexia Association will also benefit from additional funding for an advice helpline and to provide specialist tuition.

Read the announcement

English children "least safe" at school

English children feel among the least safe in the world, according to a new international study.

England ranked number 37 out of 45 countries around the world, for feelings of personal safety and security.

This was below countries such as Russia, Iran and South Africa.

Children also felt that they were quite likely to be injured, with 59 per cent saying someone in their class had been injured by a fellow pupil.

This was the second highest proportion in the world after Spain and equal to Trinidad and Tobago.

The figures are reported in a chapter on school contexts. It is part of an international survey conducted every five years, Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS).

NI classroom assistants return to work

Northern Ireland classroom assistants have voted to suspend all further strike action.

The decision, by members of the union NIPSA, was taken following weekend of talks, and a single day of industrial action on Monday 3 December.

All three other unions representing classroom assistants in Northern Ireland have already voted to accept a £15 million deal.

Members of NIPSA, who number more than 3,300, have so far taken 17 days of strike action in the long-running dispute over pay and conditions.

NIPSA said its members were "angry, disappointed and frustrated" at the way they had been treated. They had not given up, or been defeated, said the union.

N.Ireland abolishes 11+ exam

The 11 plus exam is to be abolished in Northern Ireland, Education Minister Caitriona Ruane has announced.
The exams, which determine which primary children will go to grammar school, will take place for the final time next year.
The tests were criticised as being outdated, unnecessary and unjust, and failing children.
Under new proposals children will make choices about their education at the age of 14.