**White British Pupils Now a Minority in One in Four English Schools, Official Data Shows**

Newly released data from the UK Department for Education reveals that White British pupils are now the minority in approximately one in four state-funded schools in England. This demographic milestone highlights the growing ethnic diversity across the country’s education system, particularly in urban and multicultural areas such as London, Birmingham, and Manchester.

The shift is part of a long-term trend: the proportion of minority ethnic pupils in English schools has steadily increased over the past decade. In 2009, ethnic minority students made up around 23% of the school population — a figure that has now risen to over 34%.

While diversity in schools brings cultural richness and varied perspectives, the data has also renewed concerns about educational outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged White British pupils. Statistics show that only 18.6% of White British students eligible for free school meals achieved a grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSEs in 2023 — well below the national average.

In response, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has launched an independent inquiry to investigate successful teaching practices in high-performing schools, with the goal of improving educational equity for all backgrounds.

As England's classrooms become increasingly diverse, education policy is under pressure to ensure no group is left behind in the pursuit of academic success.

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