While the decline of language learning in British schools is being lamented, the growth of community languages spoken by ethnic minorities is an "overlooked asset", says a report published today. Mainstream primary and secondary schools offer at least 19 languages, either as part of the curriculum or as after-hours provision, according to Cilt, the National Centre for Languages. And ethnic minority communities make their own provision for teaching 55 different languages across the UK. The Guardian, London|read

Children from Bangladeshi communities have improved their exam performance but are still failing to achieve their potential at school, according to the education watchdog. Pupils of Bangladeshi origin make more progress than black or Pakistani students during GCSE courses, the inspectors found. But they are performing below the national average, mainly because of problems learning English and time missed on visits to Bangladesh, an Ofsted report said.
The Independent | Read

A city council wants to set up a school in Bangladesh so children taken out of its schools during term for extended stays abroad can continue their education.
Manchester is in talks with the government and the British Council on the scheme, the first of its kind. It could cost up to £100,000 a year, although it is unclear whether council-tax payers would foot the entire bill. The plan is regarded by the Labour-run authority as a pragmatic bid to deal with the disruption to learning that children of Asian origin suffer when parents take them for long visits to relatives.
The Guardian | Read

In 2000, the schools in east London were failing. Now they are among some of the most effective in the country. Steve McCormack looks at why Tower Hamlets is suddenly doing so well. Reputations can be misleading. Ask most people what they know about the east London borough of Tower Hamlets and they'll probably have a mixed bag of negative images. Poverty, deprivation and unemployment will feature, and many will link this to the high concentrations of ethnic minorities.
The Independent | Read

Married people or cohabitees are significantly more likely to be engaged in learning than those who are single - with notable exceptions - people from Pakistani or Bangladeshi communities.
The Guardian, London | Read

The deprived borough of Tower Hamlets in London has stunned everyone with its educational results. David Walker finds out the reasons for a remarkable turnaround.
The Guardian | Read