Wellbeing

We celebrate the extraordinary diversity of nationalities and cultures among our students. Over 50 nationalities are represented, and we continually encourage awareness and respect for different cultures, countries and religions. Given this, we especially value the contributions that our EAL students make to the whole School.

For students whose first language is not English, our inclusive, safe and stimulating learning environment at St. Julian’s is even more important. Here, they can gain the confidence to use English both socially and academically. Each EAL student receives an individual learning plan tailored to their specific needs. EAL lessons are delivered in small groups and one-to-one settings. This blends both collaborative and independent learning as needed, enabling a personalised approach.

EAL lessons focusing on developing the language skills, grammar, vocabulary and content-based learning to support a transition into mainstream subjects. With in-class support every step of the way, we aim to integrate EAL students into the mainstream curriculum as quickly as possible.

For students who have been educated in English for a short period, IGCSE English as a Second Language is available. A student develops skills in selecting, analysing, summarising, and presenting material as well as narrative, descriptive and personal writing.

For students who are new to Portuguese or have limited proficiency, we provide intensive, individualised language teaching. Our small-group lessons, appropriate to each student’s level of Portuguese, support individual attention and a comfortable atmosphere for taking risks. Lessons are designed to be collaborative and challenging, encouraging students to learn from each other and incorporate their daily experiences to make learning more engaging.

Students are regularly assessed and may be moved to another group to ensure they continue to progress.

This flexible system encourages new ideas and opportunities for learning, benefiting the group as a whole and individual students. Our aim is for students to integrate into Portuguese classroom activities as quickly as possible, ensuring that they are fully included in the School community.

All teachers are trained to understand the specific challenges faced by multilingual students. They know how to adapt their teaching resources to provide the most supportive and stimulating learning experience for disparate needs. They also work closely with parents to ensure each student’s learning of Portuguese is rapid and effective.