27 nationalities at Anson Primary School, Brent, London

Sep. 13, 1967 - At One London School, 27 Nationalities: Miss Winifred Simpson had no idea yesterday how many nationalities were among her 350 pupils. To count she had to go through the school register, consult the classroom teachers, and line the children up in the playground. There were 26, or, counting the English, 27. That says a lot for Miss Simpson. She does not see her children at Anson Primary School. Brent, London as separate nationalities. They are just children. The Schools Council report yesterday stating that 19.5 per cent of schoolchildren in Brent were immigrant did not surprise Miss Simpson. She guesses the percentage in her school at more than 60. Many of them come to the school not speaking a word of English, said Miss Simpson. We get along very well without language teaching aids. she said. We teach children individually by talking to them, encouraging them to speak to the teachers. Some children used to go to have English lessons locally, but then asked not to be sent. It is surprising how quickly they learn from their classmates and from picture books. Miss Simpson and her staff have had 15 years of teaching children of various nationalities.Photo shows the 26 non-English nationalities at Anson Primary, from left, back: Cyprus, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Fiji, Guyana, Ceylon, Uganda, Russia, Ghana and Kenya. Centre: Pakistan, Italy, Greece, Austria, United States, South Africa, Poland and Tanzania; Front: Jamaica, Canada, Ireland, Ukraine, Spain, Tunisia, Malta and Singapore Chinese

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Aids Anson Asked Brent Cent Ceylon Classmates Consult Counting Cyprus Does Encouraging Fiji Ghana Guesses Guyana Idea Immigrant Individually Jamaica Language Learn Leone Lessons Locally Nationalities Non-english Percentage Playground Primary Pupils Quickly Register Says Separate Sierra Speak Stating Surprising Tanzania Teach Teachers Uganda Winifred Word

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