Department Overview
Our department mission is to support students learning English as an additional language on their path to achieving personal and academic goals from the moment they join Biddenham, through their years of study with us, and as they progress to the next stages of their lives and studies.
We have a ‘can do’ attitude and believe that, with the right support, all students can achieve.
Our aim as a school is to provide high quality lessons that take into account the diverse needs of all students. However we understand that students joining us from overseas may have a wide range of educational experiences and may temporarily require additional content and skills input and/or language development in order to fully access our curriculum.
At Biddenham our small team of experienced and highly qualified bilingual teaching assistants (TAs) are adept at quickly establishing professionally supportive relationships with students irrespective of age, language and cultural background.
In-class support is allocated according to level of student need within the constraints of the timetable. TAs work closely with subject teachers to ensure the best possible support is given to help students overcome their language barrier.
In addition to the curriculum support offered in lessons, bilingual TAs work with small groups and individual students in the EAL classroom to help them catch up and complete work in a variety of GCSE subjects. We also plan to deliver a programme of English language lessons to students with low levels of English.
Who to contact for extra information:
Mrs Mason
eal@biddenham.beds.sch.uk
Additional Information
Our transition tutor group for selected newly arrived students is based in the EAL classroom as are our small group lessons.
Students are welcome in the EAL classroom before and after school and during the lunch breaks when TAs are available to help with homework and classwork, or to socialise in a safe space. We also offer homework support in a daily after school club until 3:45pm.
In Class Support: In-class support is allocated according to level of student need within the constraints of the timetable. TAs work closely with subject teachers to ensure the best possible support is given to help students overcome their language barrier.
R4 - The EAL Classroom
The EAL classroom is located downstairs in Radcliffe (R) block. We look out onto the school playing fields. The class is large enough to be partitioned so that different groups can be taught at the same time. We have an extensive collection of resources available to students and staff. These include strategies and approaches to use with EAL students in mainstream lessons, resources for English language teaching and graded reading books at the learner’s level of English.
Booster Sessions
We offer booster sessions in English to students from all year groups with low levels of English and GCSE catch up sessions to students who arrive part way through their GCSE courses.
Homework Club
Homework club is available each day from 2.45pm to 3.45pm.
GCSE in First or Home Languages
Students who can speak, read and write in a language for which there is a GCSE qualification, can be entered for this through the EAL department. Please contact catherine.mason@biddenham.beds.sch.uk to enquire about the language and the potential year of entry.
