English Language Requirements

Who should apply?

To thrive in our Infant School, all students must be able to access classroom learning and share their ideas in English without significant support.

• Eligibility: We welcome applications from ELL students who meet these guidelines.

• Grade 1 Entry: We develop and support English language skills for students who already have some capacity to communicate orally and in writing in English, possibly with some EAL support in their current school context. Applicants for Grade 1 who have no prior experience in an English Medium of Instruction school are unlikely to meet our baseline entry criteria.

How We Support Language Development

• K1 and K2:  Our EAL programme supports beginner-level English Language Learners. Because all children at this age are in the early stages of developing their language skills, our curriculum is naturally geared towards supporting language development for everyone. We consider all English Language Learners (ELLs) in K1 and K2 to be bilingual learners, and we are usually able to support their language growth within the regular classroom without the need for separate English as an Additional Language (EAL) lessons.
• Grade 1: If a Grade 1 student is identified as needing EAL support, they will receive assistance tailored to their proficiency level, with a strong emphasis on communicative language skills. Our EAL teachers collaborate closely with classroom teachers to ensure the student's language development is supported throughout the school day.

Offer Timeline for EAL Applicants

EAL capacity is finalised after we've assessed our current students' needs for continued support. Applicants who require EAL support are typically considered for placement during the second offer round. See our Admissions timeline for dates.  

Please visit our Assessments and Interviews page for details about EAL assessments at each grade level.

Who should apply?

English Language Learners (ELLs) with one to three years of instruction in an English Medium School or similar language development are encouraged to apply. To thrive in our Junior School, students must be able to access the curriculum and participate in the highly collaborative nature of our classroom learning.

• Grades 2 and 3: Students may still have developing literacy skills. For example, they may be able to decode English text but have limited reading comprehension. 
• Grades 4 and 5: Students should possess strong communicative skills in English, even if they are still developing their academic writing or their ability to use language across varied contexts.  

How We Support Language Development

If a student is identified as needing support following their application review, they will receive English as an Additional Language (EAL) assistance tailored to their proficiency level.

• Targeted Instruction: Explicit academic language instruction in reading, writing, listening, and speaking ensures students can succeed in all facets of school life.
• Support Format: In most cases, this takes place in small groups (timetabled while other students are learning an additional language such as Chinese, French, or Spanish) or as in-class support during regular lessons.
• Collaboration: The EAL teacher maintains regular contact with classroom teachers to actively monitor and support the student's progress.

Offer Timeline for EAL Applicants

EAL capacity is finalised after we've evaluated the needs of our current students for continued support. Applicants who require EAL support are typically considered for placement during the second offer round. See our Admissions timeline for dates.

Please visit our Assessments and Interviews page for details about EAL assessments at each grade level.

Who Should Apply?

To thrive in Middle School, students must possess strong oral language fluency to access mainstream subjects. This is a minimum requirement, alongside proficiency in reading and writing. Students who have spent at least two to three years in an English Medium Institution (EMI)—or possess a similar level of English language and literacy development—are welcome to apply. 

How We Support Language Development

If a student is identified as needing support following their application review, they will receive English as an Additional Language (EAL) assistance as follows: 

• Targeted Instruction: The EAL programme helps students develop both the academic and social language skills required to succeed across the curriculum. Explicit instruction in reading, writing, listening, and speaking ensures students can fully participate in all facets of school life.
• Support Format: Support is provided either in-class during regular lessons or as a targeted EAL class that replaces the student's standard English or additional language lesson.
• Collaboration: EAL teachers work closely with subject teachers to ensure students can access the language of the curriculum. This includes developing language scaffolds and adapting classroom materials to support learning.

Offer Timeline for EAL Applicants

EAL capacity is finalised after we've evaluated the needs of our current students for continued support. Applicants who require EAL support are typically considered for placement during the second offer round. See our Admissions timeline for dates.

Please visit our Assessments and Interviews page for details about EAL assessments at each grade level.

Who should apply?

To successfully access our High School learning programme, applicants must demonstrate sufficient academic English language proficiency. Applicants who have had three or more years of schooling in an English Medium Institution (EMI)—or who possess a similar level of English language and literacy exposure—are welcome to apply. 

How We Support Language Development

For High School students who require English as an Additional Language (EAL) support, our programmes are tailored to their specific grade level:

• Grades 9 and 10: A dedicated EAL course helps students further develop their listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills, as well as their understanding of core linguistic concepts. They also attend an English for Academic Purposes class to support the development of academic language across other subjects and build the analytical and evaluative skills needed for students transitioning into the English Literature and Language A course. 
• Grades 11 and 12: We offer both an English A (First Language) and English B (Foreign Language) course. If students require intensified or additional help during these critical final years, we also offer targeted, short-term language instruction.

Offer Timeline for EAL applicants

Applicants who would be placed in the EAL programme will be considered in both offer rounds. See our Admissions timeline for dates.

Please visit our Assessments and Interviews page for details about EAL assessments at each grade level.