Pupils with English as a second language are fully integrated into both the curriculum and the wider life of the school and are encouraged to speak in English to their peers in a range of situations to enable their language skills to develop through immersion.
There is a variety of co-curricular opportunities for pupils to develop their communication skills through activities such as sports, music and drama. Teaching staff are expected to ensure that all pupils are able to access the learning opportunities in their lessons and thus help pupils to develop proficiency in English. Regular liaison between the EAL department and individual subject staff helps to facilitate pupil progress in different situations.
Once a pupil has been offered at place at the School, any pupil who does not have English as his/her first language is assessed in their first week of joining. The English as an Additional Language Department advises exactly how much English support is necessary for a pupil to access the curriculum. Each individual’s level of proficiency in English and their age will determine the level of support they will receive from the EAL department. Ashford School charges a set fee for EAL support.