Years 7 to 11

Bethany offers a broad range of subjects taught in modern classrooms with specialist facilities, including our Science Centre with state-of-the-art labs. The entire campus is served by a wireless network, the new Year 7’s are given an iPad and from Year 8 all students are encouraged to have their own laptop and much of the curriculum is delivered through ICT. Over 94% of our Sixth Form leavers progress on to university courses, leaving Bethany with a mature self-confidence and clear direction. Our learning support department enjoys an international reputation for its success in giving specialist help to dyslexic students within our mainstream school.

The community at Bethany is a rich social and cultural mix, due in large part to the presence and integration of the international population. Pupils from all over the world attend Bethany, adding a valuable dimension to everyday life, and broadening the perspectives of everyone. The ratio of pupils is generally 8 : 1 British to international. There are currently 18 different nationalities represented in the Bethany pupil and teacher body with pupils coming from countries as far afield as Mexico, Nigeria, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, and Europe.  For many English is not their first language. Bethany has a dedicated department to help these pupils achieve their best while in the UK.

The EAL (English as an Additional Language) Department helps pupils achieve their full potential in using English for academic purposes as well as every day social situations. No one can predict which aspect of a language will be important to a pupil in the future, so we cover a wide range of topics. Although English is a world language, pronunciation and usage differ greatly, often having an unsettling effect on pupils as they begin their studies in an English speaking country.

The EAL Department is involved with the induction of pupils from overseas, regardless of their level of English. Assessments take place before and on arrival at Bethany and pupils are then placed on a programme appropriate to their needs and expectations. Each pupil follows an individual learning plans based on our series of assessments but the main focus is on academic English and curriculum support.

The Department is situated in the heart of the School and has a well-resourced library of readers and grammar books. There are computers for pupils’ use, although most will use their own laptops regularly. The classroom’s projector is often used for web-based lessons, and pupils enjoy being able to see and interact with the lesson stimuli.

Years 7 to 11
In Years 7–9 EAL lessons are timetabled against French and in Years 10-11 they take the place of one GCSE subject.  Lessons focus on the key areas of reading, writing, listening, speaking and use of English. Pupils are introduced to a wide range of topics that will help them achieve the required EAL and IGCSE examination results needed for further study. Topics are drawn from past examination papers, current affairs and pupils’ work from other subjects. At least one lesson per week is based around the normal school curriculum, often working directly from a pupil’s own class-work.  The department works closely with other academic departments to ensure that the work that goes on is of beneficial, allowing the international pupils the extra time they often need to understand fully their class-work

Entry Requirements:

These are a guide only.  All prospective international pupils must take an entrance test consisting of: reading, grammar and vocabulary exercises, a writing task and a mathematics test.