1.03% of half days missed due to unauthorised absence in 2005/06 (0.78 per cent in England)
- 36.7% of primary pupils did not have English as their first languagein January 2006 (12.5 per cent in England)
- 3.6% of pupils with special educational needs statements in January2006 (2.9 per cent in England)
- 27.8% of nursery and primary school pupils taking free school meals inJanuary 2006 (13.3 per cent in England)
Birmingham's annual performance assessment report states: "Theattainment of female pupils from ethnic minority communities is betterthan that nationally. The education department has set up dedicatedgroups to develop strategies for dealing with under-achievement byspecific groups."
Source: Department for Education and Skills.
