David Vance SubstackRead More
The English are well on the way to becoming a minority within England and nowhere is this more obvious in the news that there are over 2000 Primary Schools where English is a minority language!
Let’s get it right from the start.
A shared and understood language really is THE cornerstone of cultural and societal cohesion. Yet, as revealed in a recent analysis of UK schools, a staggering number of pupils—up to 20% in some areas—do not speak English as their first language. This raises very serious concerns about integration, social unity, and the burdens this places on finite public resources.
The data is sobering. In towns like Slough, (where I lived for a few years a long time ago) 24.3% of primary school pupils lack English proficiency, and in Leicester, where the figure hovers at 22.8%, schools are grappling with a linguistic divide. It must be a nightmare for the schools themselves. There are two Primary schools in England where no child speaks English as a primary language (Tower Hamlets and Kirklees in West Bradford)!
Secondary schools fare little better, with areas like Brent reporting 19.2% of students unable to communicate fluently in English. This isn’t just a statistic—it’s a read flag.
When a significant % of a population cannot engage in the dominant language of a country the impacts are profound, undermining everything from education to economic productivity. English is the UK’s de facto language. Those who don’t speak it fluently place an unfair burden on teachers, who must then divert resources to language support rather than core subjects. In fact there presence is a disadvantage to those who DO speak English.
In Oldham, where 17.9% of primary pupils lack English fluency, teachers are forced to act as translators, diluting the quality of education.
I would suggest that the refusal to embrace English signals a deeper resistance to integration and to our Culture. Communities that cling to their native tongues risk forming insular enclaves and we see this everywhere!
In areas like Blackburn, where 17.5% of secondary students struggle with English, parallel communities emerge, fostering division rather than unity .Economically, the costs are undeniable. Non-English speakers are less likely to secure high-skilled jobs, increasing reliance on public services.
The NHS spends millions on translation services—£23 million annually in some estimates—because patients cannot communicate in English. This then diverts funds from critical care to accommodate those unwilling to adapt. Similarly, businesses face higher training costs, as employees with limited English require additional support.
The message is clear: failing to learn English isn’t just a personal choice; it’s a national liability. And it has to stop.
The real issue here is often a lack of will, rooted in cultural stubbornness or misplaced priorities. Those who choose not to speak English aren’t just limiting themselves—they’re undermining the shared foundation of OUR society.
I believe we must prioritise fluency, not as a rejection of others heritage, but as a bridge to a unified future If you won’t embrace our language, then get out of our country.
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