A BOURNEMOUTH secondary school is involved in a major project to improve the lives of immigrant children across Europe.

Avonbourne, which has 70 pupils for whom English is an additional language, is keen to focus on the importance of immigrant children knowing the language of their adopted country well.

The school, which recently achieved International School status, has joined forces with education bosses in Finland to draw up an action plan to help stop such children under-achieving at school and therefore going on to be unemployed when they are older.

Avonbourne school for girls in Harewood Avenue has identified a total of 100 pupils who have the potential to become NEETs – 16-18-year-olds not in education, employment or training – although language is not the only issue of concern.

The school aims to ensure such pupils are not disadvantaged in comparison to their classmates, a project which will be watched closely by others.

“If you don’t understand English, even PE lessons are difficult,” said head teacher Debbie Godfrey-Phaure. “Europe is facing a migrant time bomb and we need a plan of action in place now to help these children so as adults they don’t fall through society.”

Currently 8.2 per cent of 16-18-year-olds in Bournemouth are defined as NEETs and Ian Finlay, Bournemouth council’s programme leader, said: “Language barriers can prove to be a difficulty for a number of students in the town.

“We are excited to be working in partnership with Avonbourne on a project which should really help in our continued efforts to drive down the number of NEETs.”