One in seven pupils has English as a second language

The Government today said it was trying to "bring students weak in English up to speed" after it emerged that one in seven primary school pupils does not have English as a first language.

Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said the increase in the number of pupils for whom English was a second language was making life difficult for teachers, parents and pupils and called for limits on immigration.

A Department for Children, Schools and Families spokesman said: "The language of instruction in English schools is and always has been English. We are increasing funding in the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant to £206million by 2010 to bring students weak in English up to speed. We also equip schools to offer effective English-as-an-additional-language teaching for new arrivals, with a comprehensive support package."

Figures uncovered by Mr Green are said to show 565,888 primary pupils do not use English as a first language, compared with 452,388 in 2004. In some areas, fewer than 30 per cent of four- to 11-year-olds do have English as a first language.

In secondary schools, 10.6 per cent of pupils normally speak a foreign language, up from 8.8 per cent in 2004. Mr Green said: "The figures show why we need an annual limit on immigration."