Ethnic minority and bilingual pupils

Ethnic minority and bilingual pupils

The opportunities and achievement team provides advice, guidance and consultant support to help schools and early years centres to raise the attainment of ethnic minority and bilingual pupils.

Focus areas are:

• developing the capacity of all teachers and support staff who work with pupils developing English as an additional language (EAL), and providing an extensive programme of professional development in EAL for school staff, Governors and other agencies to ensure pupils have appropriate access to the national curriculum. Learning and teaching and the progress of identified pupils are monitored annually.
  
• developing the capacity of school leaders and staff with responsibility for narrowing the attainment gap for black pupils in primary and secondary schools who are at risk of under achieving. We work with schools to develop initiatives and strategies to overcome pupils’ barriers to learning. Staff have access to appropriate  professional development and pupil performance and progress is monitored and tracked annually.
  
• the inclusion and raised achievement of Gypsy Roma and Irish Traveller (GRT) pupils. Our Teacher for Travellers offers advice and supports schools in raising the attainment of GRT pupils, and our home-school liaison officers offer pastoral support and outreach to pupils and their families in relation to their education. This may include transfer to secondary schools, attendance, support at school meetings, translation and interpreting. The team offers professional development to raise awareness of pertinent issues and works closely with other agencies to ensure vulnerable GRT pupils gain equal access to their legal entitlement to education.

Contact details

Opportunities and achievement team
School improvement and standards
Children’s Services, Cambridge House
Cambridge Grove W6 0LE
Tel:020 8753 3767