8 per cent of school population don’t have English as first language – report

The council’s public sector equality duty (PSED) report for 2018-19 helps to demonstrate how the authority is meeting its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010.

It says the council is committed to working with residents, businesses and partners to create a place that ‘works for all’, while valuing all employees ‘as individuals’.

The latest population count revealed the number of people in the borough totals 209,700.

The report confirmed the rate for the number of non-UK born residents per 1,000 residents in Warrington is 62.8.

It adds that eight per cent of the school population do not have English as their first language – with Polish, Urdu and Chinese listed as the main languages spoken in schools as a first language other than English.

The report also highlights efforts in place to eliminate unlawful discrimination.

In relation to the hate crime and incident partnership board, it adds: “The council works with the police and partners in the public and community sectors to challenge all forms of hate crime in Warrington.

“The group meets on a regular basis and leads initiatives to tackle this form of discrimination.

“It has run the ‘Wise Up’ award scheme since 2014, which celebrates the excellent work that Warrington schools are doing to tackle the issues of bullying and hate crime.”

Cllr Tony Higgins, cabinet member for leisure and community, hailed the work taking place in the town.

He said: “Warrington reflects what is happening nationally, especially around diversity.

“We are well placed especially with our community engagement and the support we give to Warrington Ethnic Communities Association and the regionally recognised Mela.

“My very first act as a borough councillor in 2010 was to develop better community cohesion, working together with our many ethnic communities can only benefit the town as a whole, further enhancing our growing reputation as a town of diversity.”