French Immersion enrolment at Barrhead Elementary School has risen over the last 13 years, latest figures show.
There are currently 108 children in the program offered at kindergarten level through to Grade 6.
This is 24 more than in 1998/99 and a sharp increase on the 2010-11 total of 93.
However, while the kindergarten-Grade 3 numbers are strong, interest tails off at Grades 4, 5 and 6.
For instance, there are now 17 Grades 5 and 6 French Immersion students – a trend that has continued for more than 10 years.
Nevertheless the overall picture has given cause for cautious optimism following last year’s decision to suspend the program at Barrhead Composite High School.
“At the lower end of the program the figures are looking good and healthy,” said BES principal Dale Bujold last Wednesday.
“The overall picture looks promising as our numbers have increased especially in the early grades which will definitely help the program in future years,” he added.
The BES figures have been welcomed by the Canadian Parents for French, Barrhead chapter, which has been fighting to promote the program.
“It is definitely encouraging to see the numbers going up,” said vice-president Alexis Kiselyk last Thursday.
“The challenge is to retain the interest at Grades 5 and 6, where we see a drop-off in the numbers.”
Kiselyk believed interest began to wane as early as Grade 3 because parents were concerned about their children’s English education.
Last May the French Immersion program at BCHS was suspended for the 2013-13 school year because of low enrolment.
It meant there was no junior high program for Grades 7 and 8, leaving BES the only French Immersion provider in Barrhead.
BCHS principal David Garbutt said it had not been viable to continue the program with just four Grade 7 students, and seven from Grade 8.
Last Friday, Garbutt said the minimum enrolment number to make the program viable at Grades 7-8 was 18.
“I would say it looks promising for the year after next, according to the figures I have,” he said.
Last week BES sent the latest French Immersion data, spanning 1998-99 to 2012-13, to the Leader. The statistics fluctuate from time to time.
Bujold said current BES numbers were: ECS (Early Childhood Services) – 17; ECS/Grade 1 class – 14; Grade 1 – 16; Grade 2 – 18; Grade 3/4 – 26; Grade 5/6 – 17. These are slightly different from the ones in the chart for 2012-13 because some students moved away.
