English as an additional language
EAL (English as an additional language) is the term most widely used in schools (and other settings) for teaching English to pupils for whom English is not a first language.
Statistics released in August 2009 indicate that around 15% of primary school children in England and 11% of secondary school pupils have a mother tongue other than English. In inner London, around 54.1% of pupils are recorded as learning English as an additional language. More than 200 languages are spoken in the homes of children attending schools in England.
For statistics about EAL pupils, visit the Standards website of the former Department for Children, Schools, and Families or the National Centre for Languages for information on the general population.
