Children and Young people demographics
There are 62,100 children and young people aged 0 to 24 in Calderdale. The table below shows the age profile of Calderdale’s children and young people. It can be seen that the area has higher proportions of under 15s, but lower levels of over 15-24s, when compared with national figures.
Population Under 25, 2009 | |||
Age group | Number in Calderdale | Calderdale % | England & Wales % |
0 – 4 | 13,200 | 6.5 | 6.1 |
5 – 14 | 24,400 | 12.1 | 11.4 |
15 – 24 | 24,500 | 12.2 | 13.3 |
TOTAL | 62,100 | 30.8 | 30.8 |
All ages | 200,600 |
|
|
Source: ONS 2009 Mid-Year Estimates | |||
Long-term population projections, based on 2008 data, have recently been released. These projections assume that recent migration, fertility and mortality trends will continue, and are therefore indicators of trend rather than predictions of what will actually happen. The key findings show that between 2008 and 2023:
· The under-5’s population is projected to increase steadily.
· The 5-14 age-group will increase rapidly, by 15% over the period
· The “young adult” population aged 15-24-year-olds will fall substantially, with large falls up to 2018 followed by some increase
Population projections, 2008-2023 | |||||
| 2008 | 2018 | 2023 | ||
Age | Number | Number | % change since 2006 | Number | % change since 2006 |
0-4 | 12,900 | 13,700 | +6.2% | 13,900 | +7.8% |
5-14 | 24,400 | 27,200 | +11.2% | 28,100 | +15.2% |
15-24 | 24,300 | 21,800 | -10.3% | 22,600 | -7.0% |
Source: ONS 2008-based Sub-national Population Projections | |||||
There are no projections which show population changes at sub-district level; therefore, we are unable to determine whether or not all areas will increase at the same rate. However, we are able to look at the fertility rates and the number of live births at locality level, which may give us some idea of where the changes may be greatest i.e. Halifax Central and Halifax North and East. There are likely to be variations at ward level, please see the ward profiles for more information.
 |
Migrants
There is no reliable data on the number of migrant children in Calderdale, however, records on pupils “first language” give a very good picture of the numbers of new migrant children.
By far the largest numbers of migrants come from Poland, the Czech Republic or Slovakia, totalling 429 in October 2010 (compared to 387 in May 2010). A substantial minority of the Czech and Slovak speakers are ascribed as of Roma ethnicity.
Small numbers from Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania mean the total number of pupils in Calderdale schools who are children of recent EU migrants from these countries is around 450.
Ethnicity
The table below shows that:
- The Asian ethnic category accounts for about 10% of all children, compared with 7% of the working-age population.
- The school rolls indicate a substantially higher Asian proportion than the latest population estimates.
- There are also significant numbers of children of Mixed Ethnicity/Dual Heritage but relatively few from other groups.
- Within the White grouping, 100 (or 0.3%) are Irish and 400 (1.0%) are defined as Other (unspecified).
Ethnicity Estimates 2007 | |||
Group | Number aged 0 - 15 | % of total population aged 0 - 15 | % of total aged 5 - 16 attending school |
White | 33,700 | 84.25% | 81.3% |
Asian | 4,400 | 11% | 14.7% |
Black | 300 | 0.75% | 0.7% |
Mixed | 1,100 | 2.75% | 2.9% |
Other | 200 | 0.5% | 0.4% |
TOTAL | 40,000 |
|
|
Source: Office for National Statistics, Experimental Statistics series, CMBC Children and Young People Directorate, School Census | |||
BME communities are represented in school populations, predominately in Park, Skircoat and Warley ward schools with significant numbers also in Elland and Todmorden.
Projections of the relative growth of different ethnic groups among the children and young adult population vary substantially according to the assumptions about the overall population growth.
On the basis of the 2008-based total population projections, the following changes are likely up to 2023:
- Very substantial growth in the numbers of Asian children aged under 15, predominantly Pakistani. By 2023, Asians will account for about 1 in 6 of children under 15. Growth in the Chinese/Other category will also be substantial but from a very small base. White children will account for almost 80%.
- By contrast, within the young adults population, all the categories will grow and the proportions accounted for by each will remain largely the same as now. Asian young adults will continue to account for about 14% of the total, and White 82%.
Gender
Age and Gender profile in Calderdale 2009 | ||
Age group | Number Males | Number Females |
0 - 4 | 6600 | 6500 |
5 - 14 | 12600 | 11800 |
15 - 24 | 12400 | 12000 |
Total | 31600 | 30300 |
For the under 25 population males outnumber females, although the gap is fairly small (51.1% male, 48.9% female). The key factor in this is the greater number of male births.
Religion and Belief
There is currently no reliable information on religion in children
Sexual orientation
There is currently no reliable information on the number of lesbian, gay or bisexual children in Calderdale.