Boroughs where 70% of pupils do not speak English in their homes

More than 70 per cent of primary pupils in some London boroughs do not speak English as a first language.

In Tower Hamlets more than three quarters of pupils - 12,760 children - speak another language at home while English is a second language for 72.2 per cent of primary children in Newham.

In 2007 more than half of the primary pupils in a further five boroughs spoke English as a second or even third language. They are Ealing, Brent, Redbridge, Haringey and Harrow.

In secondaries the figures were slightly lower, with 68.7 per cent of children in Tower Hamlets not having English as a first language. There were similar proportions in Newham, Brent and Hounslow.

In January it emerged that the number of pupils joining schools soon after arriving from overseas had risen 50 per cent in two years. The figures, based on analysis of GCSE league tables, suggest at least 20,000 immigrant children joined primaries and secondaries in the past academic year.

Mick Brookes, of the National Association of Head Teachers, said schools needed more specialist staff to cope: "There is huge turbulence in schools, particularly with immigrant children. These children are welcome and they are welcomed into our schools.

"Clearly the capacity for these children has been breached in London and more resources are needed. Some of these children have very very little English, have had horrendous experiences and need counselling.

"We want their introduction into schooling to be a positive one but we need funding and the support staff to enable that to happen.

London's most diverse school is thought to be Southfields Community College, Wandsworth.

The language figures are in the GLA's Focus on London report.