INTERNATIONAL STUDY CENTRE (ISC)
The International Study Centre at Kent College offers English language programmes that give students the English that they need to join the mainstream British academic curriculum and take relevant English examinations for entry to university in the UK and other countries.
The ISC aims to provide an environment in which all students gain the confidence to access the curriculum, to participate fully in school life and to be the best they can be. The centre is highly successful in meeting its aims as pupils clearly benefit from their experience of English language learning in programmes that are designed to match their needs. Overall, the progress and results of ISC pupils are very good in both their English language lessons and their other subjects across the Senior School. Most students will move on to take degree courses at top UK universities or at leading universities around the world.
INTEGRATION INTO SCHOOL LIFE
ISC pupils are enthusiastic and committed learners that enjoy full integration into tutor groups, sports and the co-curricular activity programme. Most ISC pupils are boarders in one of the five boarding houses on the Senior School site. KC Boarding While over 350 of our students are from local British families, our 200 strong boarding community provides a home from home for students from up to 40 different nationalities around the world. English is expected to be spoken in all areas of the school and in the boarding houses if pupils share a room with another student, they will not be of the same nationality. This ensures that English will be their common language.
ISC pupils partake in Chapel and assembly services, are active at the school Farm and act as school Prefects as well as student Heads of House for Boarding.
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT
ISC class sizes are very small and lessons are taught by teachers that are highly experienced in teaching English as an Additional Language. The average class size is 6, which means that progress is very rapid, even for those pupils that have little English when they arrive at our school. One of the strengths of the ISC at Kent College is that it offers bespoke timetabling for all its pupils. The bespoke timetables offer flexible English language courses, including intensive programmes, examination courses and phased access to mainstream subjects.
ISC pupils indicate that they greatly value the support they get to develop specific language skills they need to succeed in their other subjects. The bespoke timetabling means that we can often meet the pupils’ subject choices.
TEACHING IN THE ISC
Besides being highly experienced in teaching their subject, the staff in the ISC are well regarded for the level of pastoral care and support they provide for their pupils. In their lessons, ISC students can enjoy help with English across all of their subjects but they also get a lot of non-academic support. Our pupils come from many different parts of the world and their cultural and religious backgrounds are varied. The International Study Centre is a department situated right in the heart of the school and it endeavours to be a caring community with a spirit of tolerance and openness. ISC pupils enjoy supporting each other in their learning. ISC staff encourage pupils to be engaging and outgoing, promoting active discussions of world affairs and issues closer to home.
During their English language lessons in the ISC, pupils actively use their Macbook computers as all ISC teachers use Google Classroom to share learning resources and to set work, which may be marked digitally as well. The ISC uses different methods of assessment to aid pupils' progress; teacher assessment and peer or self-assessment.
A HAPPY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Extra support is offered in the form of our weekly Academic ‘drop-in’ clinic and our Speaking clinic, where pupils can get individual help as and when needed. Each year the ISC organises several educational and cultural trips for ISC students, including trips to Leeds Castle and The Canterbury Tales.
As they move through the Senior School pupils who have studied in the ISC take and pass GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB courses and examinations. The ISC is a welcoming place where we celebrate the achievements of all our pupils.
Please feel free to arrange a visit to meet our friendly and experienced staff and to see our well-resourced department and the variety of pupils’ work on display. For further information please contact the Head of the ISC, Claudia Albertini, contactable at calbertini@kentcollege.co.uk.
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE - ISC EXAMINATIONS
The ISC prepares international students for British examinations, such as IGCSE in Years 10 and 11 and IB English B in Years 12 and 13. Depending on the level of English, preparation classes or bespoke 1:1 programmes are available for the Cambridge PET, FCE, and CAE examinations.
These English language certificates are very useful if the student wishes to go on to study at an English speaking university (in the UK or abroad) and needs to have evidence of the level of English. Many international KC students in Sixth Form are prepared for the IELTS exam as they often require a certain IELTS score to enter the university programme of their choice. ISC students often achieve grades that strengthen their university applications.
INTENSIVE ENGLISH SUPPORT
| YEAR 7 - 9 |
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Students are accepted into the ISC with a level of English between beginner and lower intermediate. The students study English as an Additional Language (EAL) intensively as well as having a reduced timetable with subjects such as Maths, Art, French and possibly Science depending on their level of English. Teaching is conducted within a personalised timetable suited to the student’s ability and speed of learning. Our small caring environment ensures individual attention is given. Students learn through a variety of activities including projects, literature, media, cultural visits and games. |
| YEAR 10 - 11 AND 12 |
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Students are accepted into the ISC with a low intermediate level of English. They are taught English intensively for either one term, two terms or a year depending on the time of the year and their level at entry. The teaching focuses on the four language skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking as well as basic grammar and vocabulary. The course prepares students for entry to Year 10 or sixth form. In some cases students can observe several mainstream lessons to learn the vocabulary they will need in that subject. |
ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE (EAL)
| YEAR 7 - 9 EAL SUPPORT |
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EAL lessons are given to students whose level of English is not good enough to join mainstream English lessons. The teaching focuses on the four skills, reading, writing, listening and speaking, as well as vocabulary and grammar. Cross-curricular support is given as and when needed. The teaching groups are small, from 3 to 10 students per class. Students learn through a variety of activities including projects, literature, media, cultural visits and games. When students make sufficient progress they can join the mainstream English lessons. |
| Year 10 - 11 EAL Support |
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Students follow the IGCSE ESL course, taking the examination at the end of Year 11. It is possible to take the examination in one year depending on the level of entry. There are six lessons a week. The teaching focuses on the four skills, reading, writing, listening and speaking, as well as vocabulary and grammar. Cross-curricular support is also provided within the lessons if needed. |
| YEAR 12 - 13 EAL SUPPORT |
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The lessons focus on the IELTS examination or the Cambridge examinations (FCE and CAE) if needed. We support students to help them reach the grade they need for university entrance.They attend four lessons a week, or more if required. Cross-curricular support is also given through weekly academic ‘drop-in’ clinics, besides the subject support provided by the academic clinics in other departments. |
LEAVERS' DESTINATIONS
Illya from Ukraine
Illya arrived at the school and entered year 9. Having a low overall English ability meant he was supported in the ISC with cross-curricular help, as well as attending English lessons with us in place of taking a Modern Foreign language. In years 10 and 11 he took a full range of GCSEs and passed the International GCSE English as a Second Language.
He progressed to the 6th form and studied Government and Politics, History, Business Studies, German and Geography at A Level. He went on to study International Relations at Brunel University and is currently studying for a Masters in Russian Politics and Post Soviet Union Territories at UCL, London. Illya considers his time at Kent College to have been formative and believes that the support he received was a key factor in reaching his potential.
Herman from Hong Kong
Herman joined the school in year 10 and studied for his International GCSE English as a Second language in the ISC while taking a range of GCSE subjects. He chose Art, Design Technology, Physics and Mathematics at A Level and he joined the IELTS classes run by the ISC, achieving the entry requirements for Edinburgh University, where he went on to study Architecture. Herman is now studying for a Masters degree in Game Design at University of the Arts London.
Carven and Amber from Taiwan
Carven joined the School in Year 7. He is dyslexic, which gave him an added challenge when learning English, but he achieved a good set of GCSEs before leaving to study Art at Canterbury College. He went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Interior Design at Brighton University, gaining a Distinction. Carven came back to Kent College for a time as an Assistant House Master before settling in Canterbury and becoming a UK citizen.
He has many fond memories of Kent College, from playing Rugby and Hockey for the School to the camaraderie of the Boarding House, to the warm family atmosphere of the ISC, which became a second home for him. He feels that it gave him the support he needed to live in the UK, not only in terms of the language acquisition but also in the social skills that he gained.
Amber joined the school in the middle of Year 9, in preparation for joining the IGCSE course in Year 10. She received ongoing language support throughout her years at Kent College, with targeted cross-curricular support provided by the ISC. She went on to study IT at Kent University, followed by a degree in Computing at Canterbury Christchurch University. Amber and Carven are now hoping to set up their own business together.
Moritz from Germany
Moritz had a fair level of English when he started his GCSE course in year 10, but Writing was an area where he needed much help. He successfully completed his GCSEs, including a good pass in the IGCSE English as a Second Language and entered the IB stream in 6th form. He gained a high overall score for his IB which has allowed him to study Medicine at the University of Budapest. He hopes to join his father’s Medical practice in the future. Moritz’s family have told us that one of the reasons he reached his academic goals was the extra help, targetted to his individual needs, provided by the ISC.
Kexin (Alexis) Zhou from China
Kexin entered Kent College directly into year 11 where the challenge of completing her GCSE studies in one year both appealed to her motivated personality and fitted her academic profile. She worked extremely hard throughout her time at the school and reached her goal of studying at a top London university. She achieved a good grade at IGCSE English as a Second Language and went on to specialise in Maths, Further Maths and Economics at A-Level. She gained a 6.5 average for IELTS in year 12 and went on to receive AAA for her core A-levels, allowing her to study Statistics and Management at UCL in London.
