New figures reveal that UK schools now receive a record £540 million annually to support pupils who do not speak English as their first language — a rise of £125 million since 2020. The funding, distributed via local authorities, is based on the number of pupils with “English as an additional language” (EAL) and can be used for translators, bilingual teaching assistants, and English support materials. This surge comes amid record levels of immigration, with 1.8 million pupils (one in five) now classed as EAL learners, up from 1.1 million a decade ago. Critics, including Chris McGovern of the Campaign for Real Education, argue that the cost burdens schools and disadvantages native English speakers, proposing a 20% cap on non-English speakers or separate preparatory schools for them. Concerns have grown as some schools now have no native English-speaking pupils. Others, such as Professor Alan Smithers, warn the trend reflects immigration pressures and diverts resources from underperforming white working-class pupils. However, the Department for Education defends the funding, stressing that every child deserves quality education and that schools are best placed to decide how to allocate funds to ensure all pupils achieve and integrate effectively.
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