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Home > Academic > EAL

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Some pupils from overseas may require additional support with learning English as an Additional Language (EAL), and the department provides opportunities for such pupils to work in small groups towards EAL examinations such as the Cambridge First Certificate and AQA IGCSE.

Entry Qualification
Minimum language ability equivalent to Threshold /Grade 3 to 4 IELTS
Good average IQ or above
School reference/ recommendation
Interview when possible

Pupils
Currently from a range of countries including Germany, Spain, China, Japan, Thailand
Numbers limited to approximately four per year in lower year groups
Larger intake - mainly German - in sixth form

Framework of Support
Flexible support depending on ability and need
Opportunities for full access to curriculum (except second foreign language)
Group or individual tuition in addition to mainstream English lessons
Mainstream teaching sensitive to EAL difficulties
Specialist EAL teaching (additional termly charge)
Supportive tutor system for all pupils
A dedicated tutor for overseas pupils, Mrs Lisa Wrobel, a full-time member of the languages department
Opportunity to take examinations (eg GCSE) in first language (eg Cantonese)

Cambridge examinations system

On Entry
Formal assessment of listening, reading and writing skills

3rd form  group lessons instead of a second language
December:  Preliminary English Test (PET)
June:  First Certificate in English (FCE)

4th form  pupils needing group lessons opt for one less GCSE
those who pass FCE continue with English GCSE and individual tuition
those who do not have FCE continue with English GCSE and group lessons
June:  First Certificate in English (FCE)

5th form
those who pass FCE continue with English GCSE and individual tuition
those who do not have FCE continue with English GCSE but not English Literature; focus is on basic skills and additional individual tuition is recommended in addition to EAL class lessons
March:  final opportunity to pass FCE
May:  AQA IGCSE English as a Second Language

6th form  catering for university entrance requirements
June:  GCSE English
June:  IELTS (also available at alternative times)
Tutoring also available by negotiation for other examinations such as IGCSE, TOEFL, SATS, CAE, CPE, etc

2009 / 10 Charges
EAL Class lessons:  £350 per term for up to 4 lessons a week
Individual tuition:  £225 per term for 1 lesson a week (£450 for 2 lessons)

For further information please contact Mrs KE Cole, Head of Learning Support Department.

Staff profiles

Karen Cole (BA English, RSA Dip SpLD) as Head of Learning Support (and Learning Strategies) organises and co-ordinates the assessment and teaching of all EAL pupils.  She is also responsible for specialist teaching of individual overseas pupils for additional EAL examinations and is experienced in supporting pupils in a range of subjects across the curriculum, including science to GCSE plus English, drama, art, history, economics and business studies to A Level.

Julia Currie (LIB, Cert TEFL) is responsible for class teaching English as a second/additional language from 3rd to 6th form (PET, FCE and IELTS) and offering curriculum support to individual pupils outside the mainstream timetable.  She is also responsible for teaching some SpLD pupils when the timetable allows.

Sally Phillips (BA Italian/German, Cert TEFL) is responsible for teaching one junior EAL set and additional EAL individual pupils when the timetable allows.