The Telegraph reports that data released today by the Department for Education (DfE) shows that children who grow up speaking a language other than English now have a higher attainment score than their native-speaking peers by the time they are 16.
The figures also showed that rising numbers of secondary schools are considered under-performing, meaning they fall below the “floor standard”.
This year, the average Attainment 8 score of children who speak English as a second language was 46.8, compared to 46.3 for native speakers.
Meanwhile, the previous year native speakers were narrowly ahead, with an average score of 50.0 compared to 49.9 for non-native speakers.
Last year was also the first time that schools were measured for progress as well as attainment. Progress 8, which measures progress of each pupil from the end of primary school up to GCSEs.
Both this year and last, children with English as a second language made better progress on average than native speakers, although this year the gap widened between the two.
Read more about today’s data Pupils who speak English as second language overtake native speakers, figures show
Please tell us your thoughts in comments or via Twitter ~ Tamsin
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Hardly surprising considering the disproportionate amount of resources that go to the non-indigenous inhabitants of these islands.
“Last year was also the first time that schools were measured for progress as well as attainment.”
Assuming you completely ignore the primary sector.