English as an Additional Language
Information About the Department
Approximately half of all Biddenham students are bilingual and for most of these students their level of language does not hold them back in lessons. The EAL department focuses on those students for whom a lack of English competence is a barrier to their learning and prevents them producing work that matches their full potential.
The EAL department is staffed by Kate Smith, the EAL co-ordinator, and 4 part-time LSAs, 3 of whom are bilingual in the most common languages of our newly-arrived students (Polish, Pashto, Farsi and Urdu).
Students who are new to English and/or to England are placed in a vertical tutor group with EAL department staff as their tutors for an initial settling in period. They receive extra English lessons in place of one or more GCSE subjects and can also have in-class support from one of the department LSAs.
The EAL room is open at break-times and lunchtimes for students to work or socialise and acts as a base/safe haven until students feel more at home in the school community.
For further information please contact;
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