EAL information for agents

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English as an Additional Language for your families

At Kimbolton School, we are proud to welcome international pupils and support them fully in their academic and personal development. Our EAL (English as an Additional Language) programme is designed to help non-native English speakers thrive in a British boarding school environment, whether they join us in the Senior School (Years 9–11) or Sixth Form (Years 12–13).

Tailored support across all year groups

Senior School – GCSEs

Pupils joining the Senior School receive dedicated EAL lessons alongside their academic subjects. These small-group sessions focus on developing reading, writing, speaking and listening skills to ensure pupils can access the curriculum with confidence.

Key elements include:

  • Vocabulary building for academic subjects
  • Support with grammar, structure and style
  • Comprehension and analytical reading skills
  • Preparation for English language qualifications (e.g. Cambridge PET, FCE, IELTS)

Our aim is to build fluency, accuracy and confidence, enabling pupils to perform well in their GCSEs and participate fully in school life.

Sixth Form – A Levels

In the Sixth Form, our EAL programme continues to complement academic studies, helping students express themselves clearly in both written and spoken English. Pupils follow a structured course that prepares them for the IELTS Academic examination, a qualification recognised by universities worldwide.

Highlights of the Sixth Form EAL programme:

  • Development of formal academic English
  • Essay-writing skills for A Level subjects
  • Critical thinking and discussion
  • IELTS preparation (reading, writing, listening, speaking)

The EAL department works closely with subject teachers to support each pupil’s progress. Many of our international students go on to study at top UK and global universities.

A supportive and inclusive environment

EAL pupils are fully integrated into the life of the school. Our friendly and welcoming boarding houses, small class sizes, and individual support ensure that every student feels part of the Kimbolton family from day one.

We recognise that adapting to a new language and culture takes time, and our experienced EAL staff provide patient, expert guidance throughout each pupil’s journey.

Associated fees

EAL support is charged hourly, either as an individual lesson, or as a group lesson.

Visit our fees page to find out the costs for the current year.

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