Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of pupils in Southampton are defined as New to English.

In 2016/17 the school census was amended to collect additional pupil characteristic information. This included a question, for pupils whose language is recorded as anything other than English, as to their level of proficiency in English. The lowest level of proficiency which can be recorded is ‘New to English’.

As stated in parliamentary question 62925 (9 February 2017)[1], it is our intention to publish information on the new data, including proficiency in English, nationality and country of birth, in the form of anonymised research within a statistical report. This will be made available later this year following completion of processing, analysis and assessment of data quality.

[1] Found at http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2017-02-02/62925/