English as an Additional Language

For speakers of other languages in today’s global community, it has become almost a necessity to show proficiency in English. The EAL Department at St Bede’s works hard to provide our international students with a comprehensive grounding in the English language, enabling them to integrate into the school community and to make the most of this valuable experience.

Whilst benefitting from full access to the mainstream curriculum through the medium of English, students also receive tailored language support in small intensive groups with a specialist EAL teacher. Here they work on the key elements of language acquisition and competence, with the opportunity to focus on subject-related work when the need arises. We work closely with other departments to ensure that each of our overseas pupils makes the maximum progress possible.

Those students who reach the required level of English are offered the opportunity to take one of the Cambridge ESOL examinations, which will give them an internationally recognized certificate of their achievements.

In Year 8, our international students work alongside their British peers towards the Common Entrance examination. This allows them the opportunity to continue through the English Independent education system, which is highly regarded by schools and universities all over the world.