International English

International English is for girls for whom English is not their native language. We teach it for academic purposes, offering it as a Modern Foreign Language option, like French or Spanish, and also as a first language IGCSE option for girls in Year 10 who have already achieved a B2 language level. At Mayfield we place a strong emphasis on developing reading and writing skills in the classroom as listening and speaking skills tend to improve more rapidly due to your being totally immersed in an English speaking environment.

Your level of English will be assessed when you apply to the school and again upon arrival. Unless you have a near native speaker level of English in all the skills and have been studying in a UK or international school through the medium of English following a British curriculum, you are likely to be in International English rather than English. For girls in Year 10 who have the requisite language skills (Level B2) and level of interest in reading and literature, we offer the option of doing IGCSE first language English Literature and English Language within the International English department, with the added benefit of specialist language and skills support. The IGCSE mirrors the GCSE curriculum and provides the same level of challenge while offering the following benefits:

• Specifically designed for international students studying in international schools and UK independent schools.
• Literature choices are more international and some of the more challenging texts, such as Shakespeare, are optional rather than compulsory.
• Questions are more open-ended and therefore more accessible to international learners.
• More specialist language help is offered in International English and can focus on specific collective and persistent language problems.
• International English classes are much smaller (few than 10 pupils) so can offer more support and guidance, especially for those pupils with minimal previous experience of formal Literature study either in English or their first language

For girls that start in Year 7, there is occasionally the possibility of moving to English in Year 8 or Year 9, either for a short-term period or long-term, depending upon their progress. This would normally mean achieving an A grade in FCE and satisfactorily passing the English Entrance Examination. Any decision to move to English from International English or vice versa is made in collaboration between the International English and English Departments, and the Director of Studies, not by pupils or parents.

Mrs Kilvington, the Head of International English, will be at school on your day of arrival to welcome you and answer any questions that you have about learning English. During your first week you will take an assessment and be allocated a class according to your ability with other girls from your year group. Within the first two weeks of term, we have a dinner for all the International English students to welcome new starters.

International English pupils in Years 7 to 11 receive four to five hours of tuition a week in small ability groups of generally no more than eight pupils. Year 12 and Year 13 receive three hours a week. All the lessons take place during the school day in normal curriculum time.

In the Sixth Form girls will study International English alongside their three or four other A levels. Sixth Form students who have obtained a Grade 6 (or higher) in GCSE or IGCSE English as a First Language or an IELTS level 7.5 overall (minimum of 6.5 in each paper) do not have to. However, the IELTS examination is only valid for two years, so if it has been taken before coming into Year 12 it must be retaken. Generally, students in the Sixth Form will study for the Cambridge Advanced Exam in Year 12 and then for the IELTS examination in February / March of Year 13. The Year 12 curriculum allows for extensive coverage of grammar structures alongside advanced reading skills and writing styles, while the intensive IELTS course in Year 13 is a fast paced examination preparation and practice course. However, for some students entering the Sixth Form with a lower level of language than anticipated, a two year IELTS examination programme would be put in place instead.

The International English department recognises and works to meet the English language needs of the current age. We want pupils to become strong independent language learners and for each individual learner to achieve the best language she is capable of in order to meet these and to study effectively in an English environment.

We use a mixture of grade-based marking and comment-based marking but you will have at least one graded assessment each half term. We use the criteria used by Cambridge and IELTS to assess work. Feedback is also related to individual pupil ability, so if we feel you could be challenging yourself more, despite achieving highly, we will tell you! Equally, effort is rewarded even if you may be struggling. Language learning is a process and our feedback incorporates comment on progress over time. You are expected to correct your work yourself and we also encourage you to correct each other’s work. Correction includes trying to make work better, not just correcting mistakes, for example, by finding a better word, rephrasing a sentence or finding somewhere you could use a particular structure. Range is as important as accuracy. Feedback is provided orally as well as in written form and we have regular individual tutorials with you to discuss your progress.

Mayfield School has been accepted by The British Council as an official Internal Cambridge Examination Centre. This means that we are able to offer the Cambridge examinations of KET, PET, First for Schools, Cambridge Advanced and Proficiency on site. The Speaking examination element is also held on site with official Cambridge examiners coming to the school to hold the interviews. This makes the exams extremely convenient and reduces stress and anxiety. The only examination which girls must take out of school is the IELTS in Year 13, but this is organised by the school so that all the girls go together on the same day.

All non-native speakers of English are allowed a bilingual dictionary in all examinations except those which include marks for Spelling and Grammar: Religious Studies, Geography and History). A set of appropriate dictionaries is held on site at Mayfield with the Examinations Officer for specific use in external and school examinations but you must also have your own dictionary for everyday use. You can only qualify for extra time if you have a specific need that has been identified by the Learning Support Department following a formal assessment.

Moving country and studying in the UK can present challenges for overseas pupils. As a Department we try and facilitate integration by encouraging it as a two way process throughout the school. We support International English students in the communication of their personal cultural needs to the rest of the school, as well as helping them to assimilate into the community through a better understanding of British culture and traditions. Outside of the academic curriculum, there are a huge variety of activities on offer that the girls can enjoy, including inter-house competitions, social events, boarding trips and extra-curricular clubs.