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English as a Second or Additional Language
Source: GOV.UK
Bolton is an ethnically diverse borough, with approximately 21% of the population being born outside the UK and a large black and minority ethnic (BME) population, with 17% of residents considering themselves to be part of non- white ethnic groups and 83% of the population describing themselves as white British or from another white background. Bolton has sizeable Indian and Pakistani communities. The most recent figures state that these communities accounted for 7.8% and 4.3% respectively.
Bolton is also home to large new and emerging communities, who have settled in Bolton through economic migration or Britain’s refugee and asylum arrangements over a number of years. At the peak of the Covid 19 pandemic the numbers of people granted asylum related protection, resettlement or family reunion visas in the UK saw a dramatic drop. However by March 2021 these numbers were rising again and it likely that resettlement will continue in Bolton. Large numbers of EU migrants from EU countries have settled in the borough also. The vast majority have successfully applied for settled or pre-settled status since the UK’s exit from the European Union. In 2020/2021 the College recruited a higher proportion of learners from minority ethnic backgrounds (48%) when compared to Bolton as whole (20.25%). The vast majority of these learners are disadvantaged with 62% of them coming from widening participation postcodes. All this contributes to a borough with a high degree of ethnic diversity, and an especially high demand for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and English as an Additional Language, which the College continues to prioritise for curriculum offer.
In response to local needs, the College offers a substantial ESOL curriculum delivered from our main campus, community hubs, and via partnership with community groups across the borough. Many of these are located in areas of high deprivation.
ESOL for Integration Fund
Working in collaboration with Bolton Council, Bolton College secured ESOL for Integration Funding (EFIF) to expand the availability of English classes in the borough during the academic year 2020-2021. This funding was aimed at those residents who were furthest from education, might not normally access classes, had the lowest levels of English and the lowest levels of digital skills. These learners faced additional barriers to learning due to lockdown measures and the loss of face to face classroom teaching during that academic year. Despite the difficulties of lockdown Bolton College delivered ESOL classes to 180 learners via EFIF exclusively online. Technology was adapted successfully to support these disadvantaged learners with both English language and digital skills development. Over 80 of these learners progressed into mainstream College ESOL classes to study towards accredited qualifications for the academic year 2021-2022. Over the whole ESOL cohort, 82% of learners come from widening participation postcodes. 67% of the learners in the department were women during the academic year 2020/2021 indicating the key role ESOL classes play in supporting female migrants to integrate into life in the UK. For higher level ESOL students the department offers excellent opportunities for progression to mainstream courses and there is now a direct progression pathway to HE Foundation courses at the University of Bolton for learners with prior achievement in their home countries.
