Sports such as football and better-supported English-language provision would help to break down barriers for migrant pupils in UK schools, according to research by Migration Studies student Grace Reynolds, who graduates today (Friday) with a Master's degree.
Grace, who now works as a TV researcher and film-maker, earned a prize for the best dissertation and gained a distinction for her MA. She is now working to turn her research into a documentary for Channel 4.
Her findings support recent calls from the National Association of Headteachers for better support for schools with migrant children.
Grace observed and interviewed migrant pupils at two secondary schools - one a large inner-city school and another in a semi-rural area. She watched them interact in the playground with classmates and talked to teachers, head teachers and focus groups with migrant students to build a picture of what it's really like to be in a school with a large migrant community.
She says: “Many of the children felt isolated. Some told me of spending lunch breaks alone in the library trying to learn English, while others banded together for safety in groups, which could cause tension. There were many good stories too, though, of migrant children making friends despite difficulties.”
Grace found that the urban school, which had far greater ethnic diversity (students come from 45 different ethnic backgrounds), had learned coping strategies such as encouraging sport, music and other activities that cross diverse groups.
Grace says: “The focus on sport helped to bond people across groups. This is important, particularly where language barriers are a problem.”
She concluded that government-supported English-language tuition, along with migrant-specific support and initiatives such as good sports provision, could help to combat prejudice and encourage better inclusion of migrant children in UK schools.