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| Express makes front-page correction for claiming English is dying out in schools | Express makes front-page correction for claiming English is dying out in schools |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Daily Express has been ordered to place a correction on its front page after inaccurately claiming that the English language is starting to die out in schools. | The Daily Express has been ordered to place a correction on its front page after inaccurately claiming that the English language is starting to die out in schools. |
| Citing official figures, the paper had said that 311 languages were spoken in schools and that English-speaking pupils were “becoming a minority in hundreds of classrooms”. | Citing official figures, the paper had said that 311 languages were spoken in schools and that English-speaking pupils were “becoming a minority in hundreds of classrooms”. |
| In its 24 July front-page story, which was billed as a “special investigation”, the Express claimed that, in some schools, English was “hardly heard at all” and that there were those in which “foreign languages [had] overtaken English”. | In its 24 July front-page story, which was billed as a “special investigation”, the Express claimed that, in some schools, English was “hardly heard at all” and that there were those in which “foreign languages [had] overtaken English”. |
| The paper relied on data from the Department for Education on specific schools and said that, in the case of one, “the number of English-speaking pupils is so low the department will not disclose the figure”. | The paper relied on data from the Department for Education on specific schools and said that, in the case of one, “the number of English-speaking pupils is so low the department will not disclose the figure”. |
| A “decades-long open door policy on immigration” was to blame, the paper said. | A “decades-long open door policy on immigration” was to blame, the paper said. |
| But the paper had “distorted” the figures, which did not support its story, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) ruled. | |
| Jonathan Portes, a former government adviser including chief economist to the Cabinet Office and No 10, had complained that the data actually showed the number of pupils whose first language was not English and did not record how many were unable to speak it at all. | Jonathan Portes, a former government adviser including chief economist to the Cabinet Office and No 10, had complained that the data actually showed the number of pupils whose first language was not English and did not record how many were unable to speak it at all. |
| He argued that the data would likely include many children who spoke both their mother tongues and English and was, therefore, no measurement of the decline of the language in the country’s schools. | He argued that the data would likely include many children who spoke both their mother tongues and English and was, therefore, no measurement of the decline of the language in the country’s schools. |
| He also complained that the Express had inaccurately suggested that some lessons were taught in a language other than English. | He also complained that the Express had inaccurately suggested that some lessons were taught in a language other than English. |
| Ruling against the paper, Ipso said the damage was particularly severe because the inaccuracies were “repeated throughout the entire article, including prominently in print in the front-page sub-headline, and because they were central to the report, on a matter of significant public importance”. | Ruling against the paper, Ipso said the damage was particularly severe because the inaccuracies were “repeated throughout the entire article, including prominently in print in the front-page sub-headline, and because they were central to the report, on a matter of significant public importance”. |
| The Express accepted that the article “may have suggested inaccurately that pupils who did not speak English as a first language could not speak English at all, and that English is not spoken in some classrooms”. | The Express accepted that the article “may have suggested inaccurately that pupils who did not speak English as a first language could not speak English at all, and that English is not spoken in some classrooms”. |
| But the paper insisted that the meaning was clarified because it referred at points to pupils not speaking English “as a first language”. That phrase had been omitted in some instances as a matter of style, rather than deception, it told Ipso. | But the paper insisted that the meaning was clarified because it referred at points to pupils not speaking English “as a first language”. That phrase had been omitted in some instances as a matter of style, rather than deception, it told Ipso. |
| And it offered to clarify the points in the online version of the article and to print a correction on its letters page. But Portes argued – and Ipso agreed – that that was inadequate. | And it offered to clarify the points in the online version of the article and to print a correction on its letters page. But Portes argued – and Ipso agreed – that that was inadequate. |
| The Ipso adjudication, which was issued to the paper on 26 November, was duly published on Wednesday’s Express front page, with the full agreed text appearing on page 2. | The Ipso adjudication, which was issued to the paper on 26 November, was duly published on Wednesday’s Express front page, with the full agreed text appearing on page 2. |
| Portes was also the complainant the first time that Ipso ordered a paper to print a correction on its front page. In that case, the watchdog found against the Times, which was told its April article “Labour’s £1,000 tax on families” was misleading. | Portes was also the complainant the first time that Ipso ordered a paper to print a correction on its front page. In that case, the watchdog found against the Times, which was told its April article “Labour’s £1,000 tax on families” was misleading. |