At Eastbrook, we are proud to welcome all the students from all over the world. The English as an Additional Language department (EAL) develops subject knowledge and skills within the wider approach to curriculum. Though students may arrive at different times and have different learning, cultural, and life experiences, we make sure all students will improve their English language and academic fluency while studying within our department.

We encourage students to be open, resilient, and confident, helping them to engage in the school and wider community and develop their identity and voice as individuals. We facilitate cultural literacy and exemplify “British Values.”

Some students only arrive at the end of KS3 or in KS4. These students may have a variety of gaps in fundamental knowledge and skills required for KS4 study. Ideally, in KS4 the EAL department would focus on developing academic independence, study skills, curiosity, and deeper thinking. We would also teach and assess literacy at a sophisticated level of vocabulary and grammar, honing students’ skills to the key text types and communication styles needed in various forms of study (i.e. use of active voice, present tense, continuous tense, and scientific key words in science; appropriate and accurate descriptive words in geography, structures to support in-depth explanation, etc.).

Where possible, bilingual literacy is promoted and encouraged through the Community Languages GCSE programme and the Young Translator’s Club.

Languages spoken by EAL teachers:

Romanian

Russian

Polish

Hungarian