Ratcliffian 2016 (LOWRES)

EAL
ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL
LANGUAGE (EAL)
This year has been another very busy year for the English
as an Additional Language Department, with a number
of new students joining the School from a wide variety
of different countries and backgrounds.
The Leicester City Football Club initiative, involving 16 Thai
students, has continued to run, with the boys starting the
BTEC in Sport and the Department’s role broadening and
developing into one of supporting them with this exciting
course. With Leicester City winning the premiership this year,
there was even more of a buzz of excitement in the EAL area
than usual!
The EAL Department
has continued
to provide crosscurricular
and
pastoral support
for students whose
first language is
not English. The
students have been
preparing to write
external examinations, which will provide them with an
English qualification that is recognised globally.
Joshua Wong
taking part
in the House
Square Races
Anna Reviakina
performing on
Exhibition Day
At the time of writing, all the
Year 13 students have either
completed or are awaiting
the results of their IELTS
examinations. The majority
of the Football Scholars have
written their Key English Test
and the remainder are due
to write either the Preliminary
English Test or the IELTS
examination next school year.
A number of our European
students have also been preparing to sit the Cambridge
ESOL examinations on their return home in the summer.
Shelly Lam and Rachel Sou
creating Easter products
Academy Scholars
enjoying Thai New
Year, Songkran, at
school.
Helena Yu (centre) performing at the
Last Night of the Proms
The EAL students have continued to achieve
across the School, both academically and in
their extra-curricular activities. Three of our
Sixth Formers received academic colours this
year - a great achievement when working in a
second or third language! We congratulate all
our students on their achievements across the
curriculum and in the wider life of the School.
Barzin Alipourkarami (far right) taking part
in the School EU debate.
Bom Thaweesuk
scoring a Bull’s
Eye at the
Leicester Outdoor
Pursuits Centre.
LEARNING
SUPPORT
The Learning Support Department
has enjoyed another busy year,
welcoming two new members of
staff to its team.
Mrs Lucy Davids joined in
September 2015 as our new
Specialist Literacy Teacher,
teaching across all Year Groups.
Mrs Davids has a background
in English teaching and has also
been assigned to work with the
English Department, teaching
a Year 7 class. Mr Alex Watts
also joined the department in
January 2016 as a temporary Teaching Assistant. He has been
ably supporting class teachers in English and Mathematics
classes and has also provided
essential help with the end of
year examinations, by scribing for
students with access arrangements.
Within the Preparatory School,
a number of new initiatives have
taken place under the watchful eye
of our Specialist Teacher, Mrs Jo
Leite. These include phonic booster
groups, handwriting sessions,
extra reading sessions and booster
groups in Mathematics.
LEARNINIG SUPPORT
Second Mahajindawong in
action against Mansfield
Helena Yu receiving one of her two Special
Awards at Exhibition Day. She was awarded
the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Prize and the
Baillon Rose Bowl Award for Boarding, on top
of the prize for EAL and a studies prize!
The hard work and enthusiasm displayed by
all the EAL students have made the year a
successful one, with the development within
the Department of a great atmosphere of
learning, adapting and growing.
Finally, we bid a fond farewell to our Year 13s
and all our other leavers, including Miss A
Callow and Miss K Singapuri. We wish them
well in the paths they have chosen.
In the Senior School, all members of the Learning Support
Department staff have been involved in the trial of the Lexia
online reading programme, which will become a prime area
of focus next year. We have been greatly impressed by the
detailed assessment and tracking system, the highly interactive
and adaptive training program and the wealth of resources that
will be available to us, as we move through the program. We
are confident that this new initiative will give a real boost to the
reading skills of our students. As the accompanying photos
show, the students gave their seal of approval too!
As we look forward to the new academic year, we are delighted
to welcome three new members of staff for 2016-17: Mrs Jennie
Harlock will join us as our new Specialist Literacy Teacher, as
we say goodbye to Reverend Georgie Hadley, who has retired,
following fifteen years of excellent service. In addition, we have
two new Teaching Assistants: Mrs Alison Batten and Mr Tom
Oakley. We have no doubt that they will all prove to be extremely
valuable additions to the Learning Support Department.
Mrs J Cluley
Head of Learning Support
66
Mrs M Reeves
EAL Co-ordinator
67