Number of EAL pupils increases by half a million in 15 years

Recent data by the National Association for Language Development in the Curriculum (NALDIC) shows the numbers of pupils who have, or are learning, English as an Additional Language (EAL) has increased by half a million in the last 15 years.

Figure 1: Total number of pupils whose first language is other than English (1997-2013)

Source: NALDIC

The chart shows an increase in the number of pupils whose first language is other than English, between the years of 1997 and 2013. The peak is shown to be in the year of 2013, after steadily increasing for 5 years.

Figure 2: Percentage of school population learning EAL (1997-2013)

Source: NALDIC

Figure 2 shows that although the percentage of pupils learning EAL remains under 20%, there has been a clear increase from the years between 1997 and 2013.

The chart also shows that the percentage of primary school pupils learning EAL has been relatively higher than that of secondary school pupils.

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