As an international, multicultural school, we welcome students whose mother tongue is not English, and we provide support to help them adjust to mainstream learning. All students applying for admission to the school are required to take the formal and informal assessments set by the school.
The purpose of an initial assessment is to identify a student’s need for EAL support, specifically:
• a student’s current level of English proficiency; and
• the extent and range of English services needed, including a recommendation from the class teacher for the type and intensity of in-class/across the curriculum support required.
The assessment comprises of:
• oral interaction;
• aural comprehension;
• word usage;
• reading comprehension of graded text;
• and a written composition to provide the student with an opportunity to demonstrate an ability to use language appropriately in an open-ended situation.
The recommended screening procedure includes assessing the student’s academic history and completing the Language Survey Form. From July 2010 a separate EAL entrance paper for Key Stage 3 has been available for students seeking admission who have not experienced English as the medium of instruction. For existing students, language proficiency is also assessed by feedback given by subject teachers on the EAL Performance ‘Check Form’.
