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Queenswood is an extraordinary place with extraordinary people. It would be our privilege to educate your daughters here.

English as an Additional Language

We are keen that all Queenswood students enjoy the wide range of opportunities the School offers. We reserve the right therefore to assess students for whom English is an additional language, in order to ascertain the degree of language support they should receive from the School’s EAL teachers. Based on this assessment, the teachers will then design a study programme that corresponds uniquely to that pupil's needs.

For students to be able to access the curriculum and have sufficient time to develop their skills before GCSE/ A-level exams, these are the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) language levels they should be able to demonstrate during the entrance test process as a minimum:

  • Year 7: A2
  • Year 8: A2+/B1
  • Year 9: B1
  • Year 10: B1+/B2
  • Year 11: B2
  • Year 12: B2+

If the English level is lower than B2, we will require the students to take a more limited number of subjects to accommodate EAL support within the timetable. In Sixth Form, students need to carry on working towards a C1 level to be successful in the university application process if they intend to apply to a UK or other English-speaking university destination.

EAL pupils generally receive two hours of EAL tuition per week: one individual and one group lesson, where they benefit from both bespoke 1:1 EAL provision as well as collaborative learning in a group setting. We provide an extra lesson for Year 9 students to boost their skills prior to their GCSE studies.

EAL tuition focuses on the language skills which are needed both socially and academically in the subjects being studied, boosting students’ vocabulary and exploring the cultural references that enable full access to the curriculum and successful integration with UK teachers and peers.

In Sixth Form, the tuition also includes preparation for IELTS; mastering the study skills necessary to learn successfully in the UK education system and developing the academic reading and writing skills necessary to achieve the required grades at A-Level.

All EAL pupils also attend a compulsory weekly 30 minute lesson with our Speech and Drama specialists who help pupils develop their public speaking skills by preparing them for the Practical English Test for Speakers of Other Languages (up to Grade 5).

The cost for EAL support is currently £850 per term; this will be added to the end of term bill. The cost for Speech and Drama support is currently £300 per term.

For further information about EAL, please email [email protected] (Head of EAL).