Vive la difference!

Pupils speak 23 languages

MOST primary school pupils can manage a tentative “bonjour” but the 230 children at St Patrick’s in Oldham boast a staggering 23 languages between them.

The town centre primary is probably Oldham’s most diverse, with pupils from countries across the globe speaking a variety of languages from Lithuanian to Luganda.

Some have arrived from Africa with French, Portuguese and Swahili, while others speak Asian languages such as Malayalam, Bengali and Urdu.

Around half of pupils do not speak English as their first language, and an increasing number start with little or no English.

But Ofsted inspectors who visited the “warm and welcoming” Roman Catholic school last month have given it a glowing report.

The education watchdog said the school plays a significant part in bringing together families from a wide range of cultures, and are impressed with the kind and considerate pupils who mix well with each other.

“The school community is highly cohesive and pupils from different backgrounds get on noticeably well with each other,” said Ofsted.“They understand that they share common values and respect differences.”

By the time pupils leave, they have made good progress and have average standards in English, maths and science. Those who need extra help do just as well because of extra support in lessons.

There is also praise for the good quality of education based on Christian values, good behaviour, significantly improved attendance and community work.

Father Phil Sumner, chairman of governors at St Patrick’s, said: “We are a very mixed school, probably the most ethnically mixed school in the borough.

“The Ofsted inspectors have recognised that the school deals with that very well and creates a very cohesive community, a family unit in the school. It shows that it can work and does work in Oldham.

“Any school that accepts through its doors pupils with different first languages is going to have a problem if there aren’t the resources to deal with that. It makes it very difficult for staff but they cope very well.”

Father Sumner is one of the country’s leading experts in race relations and has worked tirelessly in the town since the riots.

Parish priest at St Patrick’s in Union Street, the school population reflects the multi-cultural congregation which includes worshippers from more than 25 countries.

“Our school has a governing body that has been quite deliberate in opening our doors to pupils of different faiths if at all possible.

“We also have a parish community that’s deliberately inclusive, deliberately aware of all people from different communities,” he added.


Talk of the class!

St Pat’s pupils speak English, Malayalam (southern India), Punjabi, Romany, Somali, Gujarati, Arabic, Bengali, Sylheti (north east India and Bangladesh), Urdu, French, Hindi, Italian, Gikuyu, (Kenya), Lithuanian, Luganda (southern Uganda), Polish, Portuguese, Shona (Zimbabwe/Zambia), Swahili, Tagalog (Philippines), Filipino, Yoruba (West Africa)