English as an Additional Language

Sedbergh School provides specialist English as an Additional Language (EAL) teaching to international pupils who require extra tuition with their English. Pupils who have been identified as requiring EAL lessons are individually assessed when they join the school so that the appropriate support can be given to them.

At Sedbergh School we welcome pupils whose first language is not English and we provide specialist English as an Additional Language lessons to international pupils who require extra support with learning English. Each year around 15% of our pupils do not have English as their first language and about 15 different languages are spoken in school – we are a multi-lingual community as well as being a traditional British boarding school.

After registering with the school we ask overseas pupils to take an online entry test and the results of this are used to identify which pupils may require EAL lessons when they join us, so that appropriate support can be given to them. Ideally, we expect all pupils to have a good enough level of English that they can take part in lessons alongside our British pupils, can participate fully in the extensive extra-curricular life of the school and can socialise and make friends in their boarding house (we recommend minimum Level B1 on the CEFR scale). As far as possible pupils whose first language is not English are integrated into mainstream lessons, where all teachers have a responsibility to support the needs of EAL pupils.

In EAL lessons teaching usually takes place in small groups, of between 2 and 8 pupils; where necessary lessons may be given on an individual, one-to-one basis. Pupils are given support which helps them to access the school curriculum and make the most of school life, as well as practising the key language elements of grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Year 9 pupils may have EAL lessons instead of French/Spanish lessons or instead of mainstream English lessons. In Years 10 and 11 EAL can be taken instead of mainstream English lessons or as an option; if necessary pupils may take EAL both instead of mainstream English and as an option. Pupils in Year 11 are entered for CIE IGCSE English as an Additional Language.

Preparation for the IELTS Academic examination (an entrance requirement for most UK universities) is offered to pupils studying in Years 12 and 13. There are 6 IELTS lessons every 2 weeks, so they do not take up all the lessons in an option block. Most pupils who take IELTS lessons take these alongside 3 other subjects (A Levels or BTECs). Pupils can sit the IELTS exam here at Sedbergh School every June, as we have strong links with our nearest British Council IELTS exam centre. Our IELTS results are very good, with an average overall score of 7.5 each year.

The EAL Department also maintains a pastoral emphasis, working closely with other staff to ensure the wellbeing of international pupils and encouraging them to participate fully in the wide range of extra-curricular activities and events on offer at Sedbergh School. Each year we organise a large and very popular International Dinner, where we celebrate our cultural and linguistic diversity. Other events in our school calendar also celebrate our multi-cultural and multi-lingual community.

Note: EAL lessons incur an extra charge; the charges are added to pupils’ school account at the end of each academic term.

International

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