This study investigated the relationship between the English language competence of Finnish bilingual pupils and school-external factors such as parental expectations, home involvement, and exposure to English outside the classroom. Data on the pupils' language competence was collected from n?=?122 6th graders in bilingual education, and compared with information about the parents' educational background, their attitudes and behaviours, as well as pupils' exposure to English outside of school. The analysis confirmed that parental expectations and involvement were significantly correlated with language competence. Whilst parents' level of education did not have an effect on English attainment, it appeared that the overall level of education was far above average, suggesting that the current system of selection might favour pupils from certain backgrounds.