GCSE English as an Additional Language
The aim of the English as an Additional Language Department (EAL) is to teach students English and to help them reach a level with which they can:
- Successfully follow their courses in other subjects
- Integrate fully into life of the School
- Prepare for GCSE and IGCSE examinations
All students receiving English as an Additional Language tuition study the grammatical and lexical systems of English and practise the skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing.
The EAL Department aims to teach the students to speak and write accurately, clearly and confidently in an appropriate style for a given context. Written work should have good structure, punctuation and spelling and should be well presented.
Students should be able to communicate accurately, effectively and appropriately in a variety of speaking and listening situations and should be able to follow both verbal and written instructions correctly.
Support is also given with specific areas of vocabulary for subjects such as Business Studies, Science and others. The EAL Department liaises closely with the other departments in order to provide this support.
In Year 11, students who do not have English as their first language are entered for the Cambridge IGCSE in English as a Second Language which is widely recognised and accepted as an English language qualification by British universities and colleges. The Extended module is taken at the end of Year 11 and consists of a Reading and Writing paper, a Listening and a Speaking test.
In Year 12 students who do not have English as their first language generally take IELTS as a pre-requisite to university entrance.