Welcome to
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
An EAL student is a student whose first language is not English. It does not refer to the stage of English these students may be on.
Many EAL students speak English on a par with native speakers. The title of EAL encompasses students who are fully bilingual and all those at different stages of learning English. EAL students may include those who are newly arrived from a foreign country and school, those who are newly arrived from a foreign country but attended an English-speaking school, those who were born abroad but relocated to the UK before starting school, or those born in the UK but raised in a non-English speaking household.
“Our EAL provision identifies and supports students’ needs early on, ensuring equal access to our curriculum. We recognise the diverse linguistic backgrounds of our students and aim to foster their English language proficiency while appreciating their own culture. Our goal is to empower them for success in education and beyond.”
Mr Dan Thompson, Head of EAL
EAL Support
The EAL department at Ipswich High School will identify a student’s needs at the earliest opportunity, recognising the skills they bring to the school and ensuring equality of access to the whole curriculum. This help is a mixture of academic and pastoral and extends to all areas of school life, as these students are learning not only a second language but also how to adapt and thrive in a new culture.
EAL Lessons
Our team is here to support and develop pupils’ appreciation and knowledge of the English language and British Culture, manners and behaviour while maintaining their indebtedness to their language and culture. The EAL department strives to enable pupils to undertake their studies in all subject areas successfully and to be prepared for further education at university.
EAL Curriculum
Our curriculum is almost entirely delivered and assessed through the medium of the English language. Successful learning should therefore translate into every pupil’s ability to articulate their knowledge and understanding appropriately, and the curriculum must take account of this fundamental need. Therefore, as Ipswich High desires to provide effective and sufficiently rapid language development for EAL pupils.
