English as an Additional Language

With a multinational pupil demographic, Glenalmond College boasts an outstanding EAL department. 

The College welcomes pupils from many nationalities and linguistic backgrounds, and all international pupils thrive at Glenalmond supported, where necessary, by the EAL department.

Pupils are expected to have at least an Intermediate level of English on arrival and they should be able to manage the normal academic curriculum of the school. All pupils who have a native language other than English are given a diagnostic test by the EAL department upon arrival at Glenalmond to determine their level and inform setting and the amount of support required.

The EAL department's primary aim is to develop the English language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) of all pupils whose native language is not English, in order to help them thrive in all their academic subjects.

Exam entry and results

Pupils can choose EAL as their language option in 3rd Form to 5th Form instead of French or Spanish. Pupils can be entered for the Cambridge exams (PET, FCE, CAE) upon request.

Exam entry and qualifications are tailored to pupils’ ages and academic level. Pupils may sit GCSE or A level examinations in English or English as a Second Language depending on their level.

From the age of 16 and above, pupils may be entered for the IELTS exam (International English Language Testing System). This excellent qualification is recognised by universities world-wide and allows non-native speakers of English to prove their proficiency in the language which is often needed for university entry or employment later on in life.