Felixstowe International College is, as our name suggests, a genuinely international community: students join us from all over the world, at every level of English fluency. For some of our students, English is not their first language — and helping them become confident, accurate and fluent users of English is one of the most important things we do.
Our approach to EAL rests on two things working together. The first is immersion: living and learning in English all day, every day, in small classes alongside British and international students. The second is structured teaching: dedicated EAL lessons, matched to each student’s level, that build the vocabulary, grammar and academic skills immersion alone cannot guarantee.
A clear pathway to fluency.
Every EAL student’s English is assessed on arrival and monitored every term, with provision stepped up or down as fluency grows — from everyday conversational confidence to IGCSE and IELTS.
How We Support EAL at FIC
Fluency grows fastest when immersion and structured teaching work together. Ours combines assessment from day one, support in every lesson, and a pathway that runs from Key Stage 3 to internationally recognised qualifications.
Assessment on Arrival
Every EAL student’s English is assessed when they join the College, drawing on their application, previous schooling and our own placement assessment of reading, writing, speaking and listening — giving an accurate starting point from the very first week.
Support in Every Lesson
Because our classes are small, subject teachers know exactly where each EAL student’s English needs support. Tasks are adapted, key vocabulary is taught explicitly, and instructions are modelled and checked rather than assumed.
Dedicated EAL Lessons
Students with low fluency take part in weekly English Conversation lessons, with further intervention in spelling, punctuation and grammar where needed. As fluency grows, these lessons develop into formal examination preparation.
Immersion Beyond the Classroom
Boarding life, mealtimes, activities and excursions mean EAL students are speaking, hearing and thinking in English throughout the day, alongside friends from many countries whose common language is English.
The EAL Pathway, at a Glance
Provision grows more advanced as fluency grows — always building toward the qualifications a student’s next stage requires.
Key Stage 3
Weekly English Conversation lessons for students with low fluency, plus further intervention lessons in spelling, punctuation and grammar for those who need them. Vocabulary and language for every subject are built through adapted tasks in ordinary lessons.
Key Stage 4
All EAL students follow the IGCSE English as a Second Language course, developing reading, writing, listening and speaking to examination standard, culminating in examinations at the end of Year 11.
Key Stage 5
Weekly English/IELTS lessons developing reading, writing, speaking and listening at a higher academic level, measured against the entry requirements of universities around the world.
Key Stage 4: IGCSE English as a Second Language
At Key Stage 4, all EAL students follow the IGCSE English as a Second Language course — an internationally recognised qualification designed specifically for learners whose first language is not English, and widely accepted by schools, colleges and employers as proof of English competence. Over two years, students develop the ability to understand and use English confidently across all four skills, sitting their examinations at the end of Year 11.
Reading
Understanding and responding to a wide range of texts — articles, reports, advertisements and more — identifying key points, opinions and implied meaning.
Writing
Writing accurately and appropriately for different purposes and audiences: summaries, emails, articles and essays, with secure grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Listening
Following spoken English in real contexts — conversations, announcements, interviews and talks — and picking out both detail and gist.
Speaking
Communicating clearly and naturally in discussion: giving opinions, explaining ideas and responding to questions with growing fluency and confidence.
Because the course develops exactly the language students need across their other IGCSE subjects — reading examination questions accurately, writing structured answers, following explanations — progress in ESL and progress across the curriculum reinforce one another.
Key Stage 5: English for Academic Study & IELTS
In the Sixth Form, EAL students attend weekly English/IELTS lessons to develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening at a higher academic level, preparing for the International English Language Testing System — the assessments that measure English ability against the entry requirements of universities around the world. IELTS is the qualification most commonly required of international applicants by UK universities, and is accepted by institutions in the USA, Canada, Australia and beyond.
Lessons focus on the specific demands of the test and of university study itself: reading academic texts quickly and critically, writing structured essays and data descriptions, listening to lectures and discussions, and speaking at length on abstract topics. Students sit regular practice papers under timed conditions, receive individual feedback against the IELTS band descriptors, and are guided towards the band score their chosen universities and courses require. Preparation is coordinated with our university application support, so that English development and university ambitions move forward together.
English Across School Life
Learning English at FIC never means leaving a first language behind — it means building fluency in every part of school life, in partnership with parents at every step.
In Every Subject
Every teacher at FIC is a teacher of English. Subject vocabulary is taught explicitly, writing is modelled and scaffolded, and EAL students’ work is marked for language as well as content, with clear next steps.
Reading Culture
EAL students are supported to read widely and regularly — with guided support where needed, reading aloud alongside older students, and access to age-appropriate books that stretch vocabulary without overwhelming it.
Celebrating Home Languages
A student’s home language is part of who they are and a genuine academic asset. Where students wish to gain qualifications in their first language, we support and encourage them to do so.
Working with Parents
We keep parents fully informed of their child’s progress in English through regular reports and open communication. Families are warmly encouraged to contact us at any point with questions about EAL provision.
Questions About EAL Provision?
School Office
Email: registrar@ficedu.org
Telephone: +44 (01394) 282388
