English as an Additional Language

About 20% of our pupils are international students from approximately 25 countries.

We are committed to making appropriate provision of teaching and resources if English is an additional language for your son. The English as an Additional Language (EAL) Department will identify his needs at the earliest opportunity and ensure that he is able to use English confidently and competently across the curriculum.

Assessing needs

The Head of EAL liaises with the Head of the Faculty of Support for Learning, the two other members of the EAL department, and other academic departments to support your son’s needs. He will be assessed by the Head of Department, who will establish what prior subject knowledge and experience he has in other subjects.

Personalised support

Your son will receive a programme tailored to meet his needs, including small group or one-to-one support. His class/subject teachers will plan collaboratively with EAL focusing on both language and subject content. To ensure he is doing as well as he can, your son’s progress and attainment as an EAL learner will be closely monitored. We appreciate that your son’s conceptual thinking may be in advance of his ability to speak English. That is why we make certain the cognitive challenge remains appropriately high and is not reduced because the English language demand has been reduced.

Staff

Staff

Susan Hardman

Head of EAL

TEFLQ, BA(Hons)

Mrs Hardman has lived and worked in Italy, Australia, Japan and Taiwan and has first-hand experience of language teaching difficulties and experiencing new cultures. She started at Merchiston in August 2015 and teaches all ages from J4 to UVI. She is also a tutor in Laidlaw North, supporting international pupils in general and specifically with their UCAS applications, university choices and personal statements.

Charlotte Arrowsmith

BA (Hons), MA

Ms Arrowsmith has been teaching EAL for over 20 years. She has taught at various educational institutions all over the world, including, Qatar University, the University of Beira in Mozambique, the British Council in Saudi Arabia, and Nexus International School in Malaysia. She is used to classrooms full of different nationalities and ages. She brings a Masters in Applied Linguistics and sound knowledge of IELTS, FCE, PET and KET to the department. Ms Arrowsmith lives in Peebles with her daughter and their two cats. In her spare time, she loves painting, watching rugby, and exploring the Scottish countryside.

Traditional UK boarding schools refer to English language teaching for international pupils as English as an Additional Language (EAL) or English as a Second Language (ESL).

Most schools expect pupils to use only English while they are studying and although almost all boarding schools provide some English language teaching for international pupils, this provision varies a great deal from school to school.

At Merchiston your son will have:

Form	Period
1F	3p EAL
2F	6p EAL
3F	4p EAL
4F	6p EAL
Shell	8p EAL
5F	8p EAL
VI Form	4p EAL/IELTS. Plus drop-in as needed for more advanced learners.

1 period = 40 minutes in every 8-day cycle

Some schools charge extra for EAL teaching, but many now include at least some support in the basic school fees. When schools charge for EAL teaching, the cost of tuition varies.

The qualifications and experience of the staff responsible for EAL can vary, so check these details before enrolling at a school.

Independent schools often offer the opportunity for pupils to prepare for public exams such as the Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) exams, an IGCSE in English as a Second Language and the IELTS English test.

At Merchiston – all of the above examinations are offered as follows:

Form	Examination
2F, 3F	Cambridge B1 Preliminary
3F, 4F, Shell	Cambridge B2 First
5F	IGCSE ESOL
VI F	IELTS

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The Cambridge exams we offer:

B1 Preliminary for Schools

B2 FIRST FOR SCHOOLS

IGCSE English as a Second Language

IELTS

Edinburgh, Scotland

Assessing needs

Personalised support

Staff

Susan Hardman

Charlotte Arrowsmith

Traditional UK boarding schools refer to English language teaching for international pupils as English as an Additional Language (EAL) or English as a Second Language (ESL).

Most schools expect pupils to use only English while they are studying and although almost all boarding schools provide some English language teaching for international pupils, this provision varies a great deal from school to school.

Some schools charge extra for EAL teaching, but many now include at least some support in the basic school fees. When schools charge for EAL teaching, the cost of tuition varies.

The qualifications and experience of the staff responsible for EAL can vary, so check these details before enrolling at a school.

Independent schools often offer the opportunity for pupils to prepare for public exams such as the Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) exams, an IGCSE in English as a Second Language and the IELTS English test.

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