EDUCATION bosses in Bury have pre-empted a nationwide move to improve schooling for ethnic minority children.

A new Ofsted report has revealed that, nationally, there is serious under-achievement of some minority ethnic groups in schools.

Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Black Caribbean and the children of travellers are doing the worst and boys in particular are affected.

It is a cause for continuing concern, but in Bury significant steps are already being taken to address the situation.

Locally the matter has been identified for some time and is one of the issues tackled through the Education Development Plan for 1999-2002.

If the necessary funding is obtained, the Curriculum Language Access Service will work with schools to set targets for pupils who have English as an additional language and are of Pakistani heritage.

They are the largest of Bury's minority groups and the intention is to monitor their achievements and seek to support schools with related training and resources.

Already a number of initiatives have been launched locally through the borough's Celebrating and Extending Achievement Project.

They include setting up home visits to parents of pupils of Pakistani heritage at Parrenthorn High, which allows information to be given about school activities and expectations.

Dual language leaflets are also regularly sent out giving details of important dates in the school year and also stressing the importance of pupils not having holidays during the academic terms.

Another project, this time at St Thomas's CE Primary in Bury, is designed to raise the achievement of boys, particularly in information and communication technology and English.

This is again expected to include a significant number of youngsters who have English as an additional language.

Bury Council's education and community services committee chairman, Councillor Andrea Hughes, said: "At the end of March we will be holding our first conference for young people after our adoption of the Commission for Racial Equalities Young and Equal document and the action plan which accompanies it.

"Many of our schools that have a significant number of pupils from minority ethnic groups are already making excellent progress and our overall aim is to spread that expertise borough-wide to ensure that all our youngsters have the best possible opportunity to achieve through education."

She added: "Bury is never slow to take up any challenge, particularly when it comes to the education of our children. We are already well aware of what we need to do and are working towards that goal."

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