‘First Languages’ spoken in our school communities
This citywide data has been taken from the annual School Census and reveals a continuing rise in pupils with a first language other than English.
23.5% of pupils in Portsmouth schools speak English as an additional language (EAL). This equates to over 6000 pupils who speak another language in the home or community – sometimes two, three or four different languages! There are currently 143 languages other than English spoken in Portsmouth schools.
The twelve most common languages spoken in our schools are currently, in order (largest first): Bengali, Polish, Romanian, Kurdish, Malayalam, Arabic, Yoruba, Chinese, Portuguese, Urdu, Farsi and Spanish.
There are seven languages with over 300 native speakers in our schools (over 800 pupils have Bengali as their first language and over 600 have Polish); 18 languages with over 100 speakers and 29 languages which have over 50 pupils speaking them. 76 languages have fewer than five native speakers.
However, we continue to welcome new families from across the globe to Portsmouth. The new arrivals’ top languages last year were, in order (largest first): Arabic, Kurdish, Malayalam and Romanian (equal), languages from Afghanistan (Farsi, Dari and Pashto), Bengali and Urdu.
These languages reflect recruitment for local study and employment, as well as national and international factors, including the city welcoming refugees and asylum-seekers from around the world.
Community language classes
The information below is correct to the best of our knowledge, although these lessons are run by community volunteers and are subject to change.
| Language | When? | Where? |
| Arabic | Sunday, 1pm – 4pm | Somerstown Central Community Hub, PO5 4JJ |
| Bulgarian | Sunday, 9.30am – 12.30pm
Folk dancing class, 12.30pm – 1.30pm |
Buckland Community Centre, PO2 7BT |
| Chinese | Sunday, 11am – 1pm | Admiral Lord Nelson School (ALNS), PO3 5XT |
| Greek | Saturday, 10am – 12pm and 12.30pm – 2.30pm | St. Jude’s Primary School, PO1 2NZ |
| Kurdish | Saturday, 10.30am – 12.30pm | The Portsmouth Academy, PO1 5LD |
| Polish | Saturday, 10am – 1pm | The Portsmouth Academy, PO1 5LD |
| Tamil | Saturday, 10am – 12pm | Buckland Community Centre, PO2 7BT |
| Turkish | Saturday and Sunday 10am – 2.30pm (Arabic also offered)
Thursday, 4.15pm – 5.15pm |
12-14 Kingston Road, Fratton, PO1 5RZ |
For further information about each school, please see below:
Arabic school
School Name: Sudanese Community School
Language: Arabic
Address: Somerstown Central Community Hub, PO5 4JJ
Day of the week: Sundays
Times: 1 – 4
Term-time only? Yes
Cost: £25 per term per child, with discounts for families with more than one child
Age range: School age children, Reception – Y11
Structure and style of learning: Flexible learning but following an EU-endorsed curriculum
Qualifications offered: Arabic GCSE preparation
Additional activities offered: Wider community support
Affiliations: NA
Contact details
Key contact: Abdelkarim Hamad
Telephone: 07449 971211
Email: [email protected]
Bulgarian school
School Name: Bulgarian Folklore and Educational Centre (BFEC) ‘Vasil Aprilov’ – Portsmouth
Language: Bulgarian
Address: Buckland Community Centre, Mains Road, Portsmouth, PO2 7BT
Day of the week: Sunday
Times: 9: 30 – 12:30, followed by folk dancing 12:30 – 1:30
Termtime-only? Yes
Cost: £250 per year
Age range: From ages 4 or 5 to 14+
Structure and style of learning: Friendly and creative. Following a program for the study of ‘Bulgarians Abroad’, approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture (Министерство на образованието и науката)
Qualifications offered: None at the Centre but supportive if children go to Bulgaria to sit exams
Additional activities offered: Folk Dancing, cultural celebrations
Affiliations: Vasil Aprilov schools, Bulgarian Ministry of Education
Contact details
Key contact: Kremena Urumova
Telephone: 07903 555199
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.vasilaprilov.co.uk
Chinese school
School Name: Portsmouth Chinese Association Chinese Language School
Language: Cantonese / Mandarin
Address: Admiral Lord Nelson School, Dundas Lane, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO3 5XT
Day of the week: Sunday
Times: 11:00 – 1:00
Termtime-only? Yes
Cost: £120 (pre-school) – £220 (non PCA members) for 36 weeks
Age range: Age 3 (with parents) – 18
Structure and style of learning: Formal classes structured by age and ability
Qualifications offered: In house certificates presented annually GCSE and A-Levels offered in both Cantonese and Mandarin
Additional activities offered: Students learn not only Chinese but also traditional Chinese culture and history, including the Chinese New Year party, cultural programmes and the Spring Festival party. Activities for parents are offered during school times (when numbers allow) e.g. Tai Chi classes and English-speaking classes. After lessons, cultural activities are also offered e.g. kung fu and Chinese cultural dance.
Affiliations: UK Association for the Promotion of Chinese Education (UK APCE)
Contact details
Key contact: Chairman Choi (Cantonese/English)
Headteacher and Vice Chair: Ms Renee Lu (Mandarin/English)
Telephone: 07860777232 / 07856563282
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.portsmouthchinese.org.uk
Greek school
School Name: Hellenic School of Portsmouth
Language: Greek
Address: St Jude’s C of E Primary School, St. Nicholas Street, Portsmouth, PO1 2NZ
Day of the week: Saturday
Times: 10-12 and 12:30-14:30
Termtime-only? Yes
Cost: £12 for 2-hour lesson
Age range: Year R to Year 6
Structure and style of learning: Following Geek school books
Qualifications offered: None, but can help getting ready for GCSEs
Additional activities offered: Celebrations (e.g. Christmas, Easter, Carnival), all taking place during the lessons
Affiliations: None
Contact details
Key contact: Iris Nomikou
Telephone: 07729517194 – term-time only, Saturday s during lesson time
07935855811 – Iris Nomikou’s contact number
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hsp.org.uk
Kurdish school
School Name: Portsmouth Children’s Kurdish School
Language: Kurdish Sorani
Address: The Portsmouth Academy, St Mary’s Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 5PF
Day of the week: Saturday
Times: 10:30 – 12:30
Termtime-only? Yes
Cost: £5 per week with a maximum charge of £10 per family
Age range: 6-15
Structure and style of learning: Formal (following Y1 curriculum from Iraqi Kurdistan)
Qualifications offered: None currently
Additional activities offered: Creative activities offered when time allows
Affiliations: Kurdish Home in Portsmouth
Part of multi-school task force for Kurdish schools in the UK
Contact details
Key contact: Kamaran N Haider
Telephone: 0754945104
Email: [email protected]
Website: Portsmouth Children’s Kurdish School on Facebook
Polish school
School Name: Polish Saturday School of the November Insurgents, Portsmouth
Language: Polish
Address: The Portsmouth Academy, St Mary’s Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 5PF
Day of the week: Saturday
Times: 10:00 – 1:00
Termtime-only? Yes
Cost: £9 per session or £12 for GCSE classes for 31 sessions a year (although GCSE classes are every two weeks). Can also be paid termly. Discounts available for additional children.
Age range: 4-12 (Primary) 13-16 (GCSE)
Structure and style of learning: Formal classes structured by age
Qualifications offered: GCSEs
Additional activities offered: The Polish Saturday School in Portsmouth offers a variety of activities beyond standard education, including special events, drama productions, competitions, Polish cultural celebrations, school trips as well as lessons and activities focused on Polish history and heritage.
Affiliations: The Polish Educational Society, The “Polish Community” Association, The “Polish Education Abroad” Foundation
Contact details
Key contact: Director: Aleksandra Igielska
Telephone: 07455444949*
*open on Saturdays between 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.polskaszkolaportsmouth.co.uk
Tamil school
School Name: Portsmouth Tamil School
Language: Tamil
Address: Buckland Community Centre, Malins Rd, Portsmouth, PO2 7BT
Day of the week: Saturday
Times: 10am-12pm
Termtime-only? Yes
Cost: £30 per term
Age range: 4-16
Structure and style of learning: Syllabus from the TEDC (Tamil Education Development Council)
Qualifications offered: They can help students prepare for GCSE and Cambridge Tamil exam which gives students UCAS points
Additional activities offered: Celebration of Tamil Cultural events
Affiliations: None
Contact details
Key contact: Suganya Thayaparan or Nishanthy Thevapirabakaran
Telephone: 07440243452 (Suganya) | 07903221159 (Nishanthy)
Email: [email protected] (Suganya) | [email protected] (Nishanthy)
Turkish school
School Name: South Coast Anatolian Education and Culture Centre
Language: Turkish and Arabic
Address: Saturday + Sunday for Turkish, Arabic and Quran lesson, Thursday for Turkish GCSE
Day of the week: Saturday
Times: Turkish: 12-2:30 | Arabic: Sat 10-3:30, Sun 12-3 | Turkish GCSE: 4:15-5:15
Termtime-only? Yes
Cost: Donations from parents
Age range: 4-16, if needed A-level aged young people
Structure and style of learning: Following a programme of study from the books sent by the Turkish Ministry of Education, which include Turkish language and culture curriculum and go up to level 8.
Qualifications offered: None, but they prepare students for the GCSE exam and their classes are organised in different levels.
Additional activities offered: Cultural celebrations, dancing, singing, poetry recital
Affiliations: Turkish Ministry of Education
Contact details
Key contact: Shahin
Telephone: 07979 507668
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.portsmouthturkishsociety.co.uk
There are other individuals in the city offering lessons in community languages. We can’t endorse anyone but here are some opportunities that might be of interest:
- Yoruba Roots – please contact Bose Bamidele at [email protected]